Microseason: Evening Cicadas Sing

The 38th, of 72, microseason of the year is Evening Cicadas Sing 寒蝉鳴 (Higurashi naku). In 2026, it started on August 13th and is on for five days to the 17th. It is the middle (of 3) microseaon of the Solar Term "Beginning of Autumn".  

During this microseason, the sound of cicadas becomes noticeable in the early morning and again at dusk. Their call is sharper and more rhythmic than the midsummer "meen‑meen". Daylight shortens, evenings cool slightly, and the overall atmosphere feels calmer compared to the peak heat of early August.

This period also overlaps with Obon, when families return to their hometowns to visit graves, clean altars, and welcome ancestral spirits. Towns and neighborhoods hold bon‑odori dances, and lanterns appear along streets and temple paths. It’s a busy travel period, but daily life often slows down once people arrive home.

Seasonal produce changes: Japanese banana (bashō) ripens, and megochi fish come into season. Lantern plants (hōzuki) turn a deeper orange. Some summer flowers begin to fade and fresh blueberries are becoming less common. Some grasses and shrubs show early signs of recovery after the hottest weeks and the grapes have started to grow.