"Shosho", Manageable Heat Solar Term

Shosho, written 処暑, is the 14th of the 24 solar terms and arrives when the sun reaches 150° ecliptic longitude. In English, it is usually translated as “End of Heat” or “Manageable Heat.” It falls around August 22nd / 23rd. In 2026, it is on from August 23rd to September 6th.

It marks the period when the oppressive midsummer warmth finally begins to ease. Days remain hot, but evenings start even more cooler than the first drop around Obon. Moreover, they are more breathable. In the traditional calendar, Shosho is the threshold between summer’s intensity and the first true hints of early autumn in nature. Traditionally, it was people most started to see a significant turn in the season.

In farming, Shosho signals late‑summer abundance and early‑autumn preparation. Rice plants, which have grown vigorously through the rainy season and midsummer heat, begin their steady maturation toward the autumn harvest. Farmers watch the skies closely, as this period overlaps with typhoon season. Late‑summer vegetables such as eggplants, cucumbers, tomatoes, okra, edamame, and early soybeans are at their peak, and fields shift from active growth to ripening.

Nature shows subtle but unmistakable signs of seasonal change too. Bush clovers (hagi) begin to bloom and migratory birds begin early movements. It is during this period that the Begonia begins to bloom. Today, as traditionally, they are seen as a harbinger of autumn. Winds shift from heavy, humid warmth to the first gentle cool breezes. Across Japan, Shosho brings relief; the heat is still present, but no longer overwhelming, and the natural world brings us closer to true Autumn.