From Oct 17, 2026 to Oct 21, 2026, the corresponding solar term in the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) is 寒露(Kanro), and the corresponding microseason in the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is 蟋蟀在戸(Kirigirisu to ni ari).

What Is “Kirigirisu to ni ari” (蟋蟀在戸)?

"Kirigirisu To ni Ari" (蟋蟀在戸) is one of the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons), the traditional Japanese calendar that divides the year into 72 subtle seasonal phases. It is the final microseason within Kanro (寒露, Cold Dew), one of the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms), and typically occurs in mid-October each year. The word "kirigirisu" (蟋蟀) in this context refers to what we now call a cricket, while "to" (戸) means the entrance or doorway of a house. Thus, "Kirigirisu To ni Ari" literally describes a scene in which "crickets are chirping near the doorway." During the summer, crickets sing deep within the grass. As autumn advances and the temperatures begin to fall, they move closer to homes in search of warmth. People in ancient Japan carefully observed this late-autumn scene and recorded it as a sign of the changing season. The sound of a cricket's song is closely linked to temperature: as the air grows cooler, the rhythm of its chirping becomes noticeably slower. By listening to the crickets gathering near the doorway, one can sense the deepening of autumn firsthand. The Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) embody a traditional Japanese wisdom that captures even the slightest changes in nature through language. "Kirigirisu To ni Ari" is a particularly evocative autumn expression, reminding us of the intimate connection between the seasons and the natural world through the gentle voices of insects.

List of Japan’s 72 Microseasons