From Apr 10, 2026 to Apr 14, 2026, the corresponding solar term in the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) is 清明(Seimei), and the corresponding microseason in the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is 鴻雁北(Kougan kaeru).

What Is “Kougan kaeru” (鴻雁北)?

"Kōgan Kaeru" (鴻雁北, "Wild Geese Return North") is one of Japan's Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons), a traditional set of seasonal markers that falls around mid-April each year. It describes the scene of wild geese, which spent the winter in Japan, returning north with the arrival of spring. The Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) are part of a traditional Japanese calendar system that further divides the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) into finer seasonal phases. Even today, this system continues to attract interest as a cultural way of sensing the seasons through changes in nature and the behavior of living creatures. The character "kō" (鴻) refers to a large wild goose, and the image of geese returning north evokes the transition from deepening spring toward early summer. Geese have long been known as migratory birds: they arrive in Japan in autumn and return to northern regions such as Siberia in spring. "Kōgan Kaeru" was created to capture this natural phenomenon within the traditional calendar. In recent years, interest in the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons), the traditional Japanese calendar, and seasonal expressions has grown steadily. "Kōgan Kaeru" is also a familiar theme in the worlds of waka poetry and haiku. By learning about Japan's unique sense of the seasons, people can experience the subtle changes of nature more richly in everyday life.

List of Japan’s 72 Microseasons