Frogs begin to sing

As I introduced the other day, May 5th marks the start of the solar term "Rikka" or "Summer rises". It is the seventh of the solar terms. Within each solar term there are three micro seasons. And thus, May 5th is also the start of a micro season. The first micro season of "Summer Rises" (Rikka) is Frogs Begin to Sing 蛙始鳴 (Kawazu hajimete naku).

As the name implies, it is the season when you can start to hear frog sounds. In Japanese frog is "kaeru", but for the micro season name it is pronounced "kawazu". The frogs have awakened and start calling to one another, a sound long associated with rural life. Their voices signal not only that they are alive but that the fields are alive again too! 

During this micro season changes in nature include a rise in temperatures rise and the lengthening of the evenings. You can see rice fields filled with water and more growth and greenery. Springs softness is slipping away, and summer vibes are taking over.