Microseason: The dew on the grass shines white

The 43rd of Japan’s 72 microseasons is The Dew on the Grass Shines White 草露白 (Kusa no tsuyu shiroshi). It is the first microseason of the "Hakuro", White Dew solar term, when dew forms in the mornings thanks to the cooling of the earth at night. This year, the "Dew on the Grass Shines White" microseason runs for five days from September 7th to 11th.

“The Dew on the Grass Shines White” marks the period when summer’s lingering warmth finally loosens its grip. In the early mornings, we can see blades of grass tipped with silver, spiderwebs jeweled with tiny droplets, and the air carrying that unmistakable shift toward autumn. At this time of year, spider webs reveal themselves more easily, their fine threads sparkling with dew and looking surprisingly artistic.

Out in the fields, this period traditionally marked the main rice harvest. Cooler nights help stabilize crops still growing, and farmers historically relied on the presence of dew to anticipate clear weather for outdoor tasks. In the wild, countless tiny autumn blossoms begin appearing among grasses and forest edges; not bold summer flowers, but modest blooms that together create a soft, radiant landscape. Dragonflies skim low over rivers and fields, and there is a softness in the countryside.

This microseason is rich with early‑autumn markers. The Seven Autumn Flowers begin to show themselves, if they haven't already.  "Kiku no Sekku" (Chōyō no Sekku / Chrysanthemum Festival), one of Japan's five ancient festivals, falls in this microseason. In markets and kitchens, chestnuts appear in rice dishes and sweets, figs and grapes reach their peak, and seasonal fish like shima‑aji become popular.