From Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 11, 2026, the corresponding solar term in the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) is 立冬(Rittou), and the corresponding microseason in the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is 山茶始開(Tsubaki hajimete hiraku).

What Is “Tsubaki hajimete hiraku” (山茶始開)?

"Tsubaki Hajimete Hiraku" (山茶始開, Mountain Tea Flowers Begin to Bloom) is one of the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons), the traditional Japanese system that divides the year into finely observed seasonal phases. It corresponds to the first microseason of Rittō (立冬, Beginning of Winter), one of the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms). This period typically falls between around November 7 and November 11, and, as its name suggests, signifies the time when sasanqua camellias (sazanka) begin to bloom. The Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is a traditional calendar that divides the year into 72 segments, each reflecting subtle changes in nature. Originating in ancient China, the system was later adapted and developed in Japan to suit the country's unique climate and landscape. Among these microseasons, "Tsubaki Hajimete Hiraku" is especially known for symbolizing the transition from late autumn to early winter. Although the name is written with the characters "山茶", which are read as "tsubaki" in this microseason, the term originally referred in China to camellias in a broader sense, encompassing plants of the tea family. This is why the reading differs from the flower actually associated with the season. The sasanqua camellia (山茶花, Camellia sasanqua) is an evergreen tree in the tea family. It is often confused with the common camellia (椿, "tsubaki"), but unlike camellias, which generally bloom later in the colder season, sasanquas are characterized by flowering from autumn into winter. Another distinguishing feature is the way the blossoms fall: camellia flowers tend to drop whole, while sasanqua petals scatter individually. As celebrated in the beloved Japanese children's song "Takibi" ("Bonfire"), with the lyric ""Sazanka, sazanka, saita michi"" ("Sasanquas, sasanquas, along the blooming path"), the flower has long been a familiar symbol of the approaching winter for the Japanese people. The season of "Tsubaki Hajimete Hiraku" coincides with the time when mornings and evenings grow noticeably colder and the first chilly winter winds begin to blow. As deciduous trees shed their leaves and the landscape takes on a wintry appearance, the pure white and soft pink blossoms of the sasanqua stand out with quiet elegance. Their graceful presence is often seen as a symbol of the beauty of the Japanese winter. During this time of year, as people prepare for the colder months ahead, it is also an ideal opportunity to pause and appreciate the subtle signs of the changing season in the natural world around them.

List of Japan’s 72 Microseasons