From Mar 1, 2026 to Mar 4, 2026, the corresponding solar term in the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) is 雨水(Usui), and the corresponding microseason in the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is 草木萌動(Soumoku mebae izuru).

What Is “Soumoku mebae izuru” (草木萌動)?

"Sōmoku Mebae Izuru" (草木萌動) is one of the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons), Japan's traditional system of seasonal divisions, and corresponds to the final microseason of the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) known as "Usui" (雨水, "Rain Water"). It refers to the period from around late February to early March each year, marking the arrival of the season when grasses and trees begin to bud. The Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is a uniquely Japanese calendar that divides the year into 72 finely observed seasonal moments. "Sōmoku Mebae Izuru" is a poetic expression capturing the instant when plants and trees — which have lain quietly dormant throughout winter — begin, little by little, to radiate life along with the warmth of the earth. During this time, plum blossoms come into full bloom in parks and across the hills and fields, while wildflowers such as dandelions and Veronica persica begin to peek through the ground. It is also right around this period that cherry blossom forecasts start making the news. This microseason embodies the sense of attunement to nature's rhythms that the Japanese have cherished for centuries. In modern life, it can be easy to lose touch with the subtle shifts of the seasons — but if you step outside for a walk during "Sōmoku Mebae Izuru" and turn your attention to the tiny wildflowers growing along the roadside, you can feel, in a very direct way, the delicate transition from winter into spring. The language of the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is a beautifully distinctive part of Japan's cultural heritage, one that brings richness and a spirit of mindful awareness to everyday life. Why not let "Sōmoku Mebae Izuru" be your invitation to discover a renewed connection with the nature that surrounds you?

List of Japan’s 72 Microseasons