Spring Is Just Around the Corner
- Ellie Taniguchi
- Feb 8
- 2 min read
A few days have passed since the beginning of February.
There were several mild days recently, and for a brief moment, it felt as though spring might arrive just like that, stirring a quiet sense of excitement.
Yet, it is still February.
As I write this, Japan is experiencing the coldest days of the year.
In Japan and East Asia, calendars based on the phases of the moon and seasonal markers derived from the movement of the sun have long been used together, overlapping and complementing one another.
Today, this system is referred to as the lunar calendar. Dates were counted according to the waxing and waning of the moon, while seasonal discrepancies were adjusted through intercalary months. The new moon marked the beginning of each month, and the full moon and lunar phases served as important guides in everyday life.
At the same time, the changing of the seasons was defined by the 24 solar terms (Nijūshi-sekki), closely tied to agricultural work and annual observances. Even after Japan adopted the solar calendar in 1872, these 24 solar terms have continued to shape the country’s sense of time, deeply rooted in daily life and culture.
After Setsubun on February 3, we enter Risshun—the beginning of spring—on February 4.
According to the calendar, spring has arrived, yet in terms of physical sensation, this is often the coldest period of the year. Snow still drifts through the air, and the temperature can make spring feel distant. Even so, beneath the frozen ground, the first signs of awakening toward spring are quietly beginning.
Once this peak of cold has passed, a season will slowly arrive in which the heart and body begin to soften and loosen.
We have now finalized the schedule for our spring retreats, following several inquiries.
Though it may be only a short time away from everyday life, we hope you will take the opportunity to step into a quiet place,
and spend a moment gently apart from your daily routine.
Personally, I feel that spring is the season when this island opens most softly.
If the timing feels right, we would be delighted for you to come and experience that atmosphere with your whole body.
Details can be found here:
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