From Jan 20, 2026 to Jan 24, 2026, the corresponding solar term in the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) is 大寒(Daikan), and the corresponding microseason in the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is 款冬華(Fuki no hana saku).

What Is “Fuki no hana saku” (款冬華)?

"Fuki no Hana Saku" (款冬華, "The Fuki Flowers Bloom") is one of the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons), Japan's finely grained seasonal calendar, corresponding roughly to January 20–24 each year. The Shichijūni Kō is a traditional Japanese system that further divides the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) into three segments of approximately five days each. "款冬" is an old literary name for "fuki" (蕗, Japanese butterbur), and "華" means flower or bloom. Together, "Fuki no Hana Saku" carries the meaning: "the time when fuki blossoms begin to open." Even as the bitter cold of winter lingers, the fuki's flower buds — known as "fukinotō" (フキノトウ) — quietly push up through the snow or crack through frozen ground. For centuries, they have been cherished as the first herald of spring. The fukinotō is a remarkable plant: its flower buds emerge from the soil before its leaves ever appear above ground. Its distinctively pleasant bitterness is deeply woven into Japanese food culture, and it remains a beloved spring mountain vegetable today, enjoyed in dishes such as tempura and miso-dressed "sansai" (山菜, Wild vegetables). In the traditional calendar, "Fuki no Hana Saku" falls within "Daikan" (大寒) — the "Great Cold" — the solar term considered the coldest period of the year. And yet the fukinotō stirs. Beneath the surface, the earth has already begun its quiet preparations for spring. Paying attention to the Shichijūni Kō offers a more mindful way of experiencing Japan's natural rhythms and the subtle turning of the seasons. "Fuki no Hana Saku" is a beautiful expression that reminds us: even in the depths of winter, the breath of spring is already stirring, hidden just below the frost.

List of Japan’s 72 Microseasons