Suddenly, the air turned cold and I felt chilly, so I pulled out my favorite green sweater from the back of the closet.
Looking at the calendar, next to the date of 8th November, I noticed the words “Ritto“, which means the beginning of winter.
I was convinced that it was truly the arrival of winter.
Some Japanese calendars have a seasonal calendar, “Nijushisekki (24 seasonal divisions),” written in small letters next to the date.
According to the movement of the sun, the seasonal calendar divides a year into 4 seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter), and each season is further subdivided into 6 seasons, making a total of 24 smaller seasons.
That means, about every 15 days, people sense the delicate changes in nature, such as climates, flowers, insects, and birds, and adapt to them and live their lives.
“Nijushisekki (24 seasonal divisions)” is said to have come from ancient China and has been used in Japan especially for rice planting and harvesting since ancient times.
What always amazes me about it is its accuracy. At major seasonal junctures, I literally feel a real change in the wind and the air.
On 8th November or “Ritto(the beginning of winter)”, the sky and air, which had been mild and autumn-like, have become cool and cold and the weather really has changed into winter!
Nowadays, I only pay attention to this “Nijushisekki(24 seasonal divisions)” when the seasons change drastically, but it is because it is so wonderful that it has been passed down to this day.
Ritto is around 8th November, and the exact date can change depending on each year.
Below In Japanese
11月8日 立冬〜冬の始まり
急に空気が冷たくなり、肌寒く感じたので、お気に入りの緑のセーターをクローゼットの奥から引っ張り出してきました。カレンダーをみると、11月8日の日付の横には、冬の始まりを意味する「立冬」という文字があり、とても納得。
日本のカレンダーには、西暦の日付の横に「二十四節気（にじゅうしせっき）」と呼ばれる季節のカレンダーが小さな文字で書いてあるものがあります。太陽の動きにより一年を春夏秋冬の４つに分け、さらに各季節を６つに細分し、全部で24の小さな季節にしたものです。
つまり約15日ごとに、気候や、花や虫や鳥などの自然の変化を細かく感じ、適応しながら暮らしを営むということ。
古代中国から伝来したものだそうで、昔から今に至るまで日本でも、田植えや稲刈りなどに活用してきたそうです。
私がこの「二十四節気」でいつも驚くのは、その正確性です！ 季節の大きな節目では、風や空気感が本当に変わり、季節の移り変わりを体感できるのです。「立冬」の今日からは、今まで穏やかで秋らしかった空や空気が、ひんやりと冷たくなり、冬の気候に変化しました。
昔の人の観察力や知恵は本当にすごいですね。この「二十四節気」、私は季節がガラッと変わる時に気にする程度ですが、素晴らしいものだからこそ、今でも伝え継がれてきているんですね。
My name is Mari. I am a native Japanese living in Japan. I am writing about 365 stories of Japanese daily life and culture etc. based on my experiences and perspectives.
#001 story is about “24 seasons in Japan.”