Microseason: Soil Moistens, Humidity Fills the Air

The second microseason of the solar term "Major Heat" is Soil Moistens, Humidity Fills the Air 土潤溽暑（つちうるおうて むしあつし）. Overall, it is the 35th micro season of the year in Japan's traditional 72 season calendar. In 2026, it is on from July 28th to August 1st.  The name captures the exact feeling of late midsummer: both the ground and air still heavy with moisture from the rainy season. 

In this microseason, it's not just the heat that is unbearable, but the humidity too. It is so humid in Japan that it feels like you are living in a sauna. There is no escaping it, it wraps around you with a heaviness. Rain can offer temporary relief, but then when the sun hits the puddles afterward you can actually see the steam rising.  This is the season when you need all and any armor you have against heat stroke - parasols, handy fans, body wipes, neck coolers etc. Here's a City-cost post with ten useful cooling product options.

This microseason overlaps with doyo, a period when people avoided heavy labor and ate strengthening foods like eel, edamame, anago, and hassaku to support the body through oppressive heat. Despite the discomfort, there’s a shared sense of connection: everyone moving through the same dense summer together, waiting for the first hint of relief.