Due to the impact of heavy snow, it seems that the cherry blossom festival in Kawazu Town, Izu, is experiencing a significant decline in visitors. In the Kanto and Koshin regions, snow continued to fall from the 5th to the morning of the 6th, with reports of a potential heavy snow warning even in the 23 wards of Tokyo. The Kawazu Sakura Festival, which used to start from February 10th until two years ago, is now affected by global warming, beginning on February 1st and running until the end of the month, the 29th. Despite attracting crowds mainly from the Kanto region, even on weekdays, today, as shown in the photo, there is not a single person around. It seems to be reserved exclusively for locals. As expected, it’s “Great Cold”. It is the ulterior motive that is trying to make you look forward to spring by imposing a final test.
I placed the kumquats we received in a bamboo basket by the window. As the afternoon turns to 5 o’clock, the once-dark dusk now bathes in sunlight. The rays illuminate each individual kumquat, creating as many sunsets as there are kumquats. Taking a bite, you experience a faint bitterness followed by a refreshing acidity, and then a prominent sweetness spreads in your mouth. It is truly a moment to feel the blessing of the sun. Since childhood, I have been fed kumquats with the belief that they prevent colds. Even now, when I visit the supermarket, I see them sold in mesh bags. Occasionally, I buy kumquat throat lozenges. Each one reminds me of the kumquats that used to grow in the backyard, creating a nostalgic and heartwarming feeling.
Continuing from yesterday, today marks the first day of spring in the 24 solar terms, signifying the beginning of the year. On the other hand, the year according to the lunar calendar (solar and lunar calendar) begins on February 10th this year, and this day marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. In Japan, the tradition of celebrating the ‘Old New Year’ persists in some regions, particularly in Okinawa and the southwestern islands. When we were children, we often heard about the Lunar New Year still. However, in contemporary Japan, New Year’s celebrations have firmly established themselves during the first three days of January in the Gregorian calendar. The resurgence of interest in the Lunar New Year is attributed to China’s Spring Festival. With the rapid economic development of China, many Chinese people visit Japan during the Spring Festival, and the phenomenon of ‘explosive buying’ became a topic of conversation. Looking around neighboring countries, Japan is unique in celebrating the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar. In China, Taiwan, and Singapore, it’s the ‘Spring Festival,’ in Korea, it’s ‘Seollal,’ in Vietnam, it’s ‘Tet,’ and in Malaysia, it’s the ‘Chinese New Year’—all of which are based on the old lunar calendar. While Japan celebrates the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar, traditional events following the old lunar calendar and the 24 solar terms are abundant throughout the year, starting with today’s first day of spring. It’s a curious country.
Today is Setsubun, tomorrow is the beginning of spring (Risshun), and the 10th is the New Year’s Day of the old lunar calendar. This time of year feels like spring is rapidly approaching. While Risshun marks the start of the year in the 24 solar terms based on the sun’s movement along the ecliptic, the old lunar New Year falls on the first day of the “old calendar,” determined by the phases of the moon. When combined with the new calendar’s January 1st, Japan has three different beginnings of the year. While the new calendar’s New Year is fixed on January 1st, the old lunar New Year varies between January 22nd and February 19th, depending on the new moon day, making it different each year. Although Japan’s New Year is almost always on January 1st, in countries like China, Taiwan, Korea, and some Southeast Asian nations, the old lunar New Year is celebrated as the New Year. China’s New Year, known as the Spring Festival (Chun Jie), is well-known in Japan as well. The Spring Festival in 2024 is an 8-day holiday from February 10th (Saturday) to February 17th (Saturday), and many Chinese visitors are expected in Japan during this period.
In the first Nagisa Park in Moriyama City, located on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, approximately 12,000 early-blooming rape blossoms, known as Kanzaki Hanana, are in full bloom. The contrast between these flowers and the snow-capped Hira Mountains on the opposite shore reflected on the lake’s surface heralds the arrival of spring along the lakeshore. In mid-January, the rape blossoms, which usually begin blooming one week earlier than usual, faced a setback due to a cold snap, but they still reached full bloom earlier than usual. Like cherry blossoms, rape blossoms bloom nationwide and represent spring. In the southern part of the Izu Peninsula, at Shimo-Kamo Onsen, both rape blossoms and Kawazu cherry blossoms bloom simultaneously during this season. In many other regions, rape blossoms bloom alongside cherry blossoms from March to April, and even after cherry blossoms have finished blooming, rape blossoms often continue to bloom. The rape blossoms in Yokohama Town, Aomori Prefecture, home to Japan’s largest rape blossom field, bloom from mid-May to early June. Thus, both cherry blossoms and rape blossoms bloom somewhere in Japan for about six months.
On February 3rd, the day after tomorrow, is Setsubun. When it comes to Setsubun, in the past, people used to roast soybeans and throw them towards the window, saying ‘Oni wa soto’ (Demons out). After scattering the beans, they would close the windows. Then, they would say ‘Fuku wa uchi’ (Fortune in) while throwing beans inside the room. This ritual was performed from the innermost room to the entrance, and finally, beans were thrown at the entrance. Afterward, people would eat the same number of beans as their age plus one, symbolizing the dispelling of misfortune for the new year. However, nowadays, the tradition of eating ‘Ehomaki’ (lucky direction sushi rolls) has become more popular on Setsubun. Many households no longer engage in the bean-scattering ritual. The origin of Ehomaki is unclear, but it is believed to have started in the late Edo period in Osaka’s Senba district. It became a custom in some parts of Kansai, and in the 1990s, major convenience stores popularized it nationwide. Now, it’s firmly established that people eat Ehomaki on Setsubun. The term ‘Eho’ refers to the direction where the deity ‘Saitokujin’ (god of good fortune for the year) resides, determining the year’s fortune. Eating rolled sushi facing that direction led to the name ‘Ehomaki.’ The location of Saitokujin changes every year, and this year’s lucky direction is ‘Northeast by East, slightly East.’ On February 3rd, people across the country will enjoy Ehomaki facing this direction. Just imagining it brings joy.
I still remember the first time I ate a summer mandarin. It was when I visited my mother’s hometown around the time I was in elementary school. In the backyard, there was a large summer mandarin tree with plenty of them hanging. I knocked them down with just a pole, peeled off the skin, and the moment it touched my mouth, I spat it out. It was so sour that it made me jump. Even now, as I recall that moment while writing this, saliva comes to my mouth. When I brought them home and told everyone about it, there was laughter. My aunt brought baking soda, and by applying it, we discovered that they became delicious. Nowadays, there is a similar variety called ‘Amanatsu,’ and it’s sweet without needing baking soda. Summer mandarins are said to have originated from a mutation of the Citrus maxima variety that drifted to Aoshima in Yamaguchi Prefecture carried by the Kuroshio current during the mid-Edo period. From this sudden mutation of summer mandarins, the ‘Amanatsu’ variety was born in 1935.
Setsubun is just around the corner. In the mountains and fields west of the Kanto region, a flower known as Setsubun-so, also called the ‘herald of spring’ or the ‘princess of spring,’ begins to bloom. True to its name, it starts blooming around the time of Setsubun, which gives it its distinctive name. However, in the Kanto region, it seems to bloom after Setsubun has passed. Setsubun-so emerges in the dead of winter, its flowers blossom, leaves flourish, and then its above-ground parts wither, entering a dormant phase until autumn. It only shows its face above ground for about three months in a year, and its delicacy and transience make it a beloved and charming wildflower. Setsubun-so has a height of about 10 cm, and its flowers are small, around 2 cm in size. The flowers themselves are quite unique. What appears to be white petals are actually sepals, while the petals are located inside, resembling yellow, rod-like structures that look as if they are filled with abundant nectar. Numerous stamens are found on the inside, and further inside are the pistils. The formal scientific name for Setsubun-so is ‘Eranthis pinnatifida.’ The genus name ‘Eranthis’ has its roots in Greek, combining ‘spring (er)’ and ‘blossom (anthos),’ signifying a flower that blooms in spring. In English, it is sometimes referred to as ‘Spring Ephemeral’ or ‘Winter Aconite.’ The latter name, ‘Winter Aconite,’ includes ‘aconite,’ referring to the toxic plant monkshood, suggesting a winter monkshood. Although Setsubun-so is native to Japan, environmental issues and overharvesting have led to a decline in its natural population. Consequently, it has been designated as a near-threatened species by the Ministry of the Environment.
Otome Tsubaki (the maiden’s camellia), aptly named ‘Pink Perfection’ in English, is a charming beauty. Camellias, originally from Japan, were introduced to the West in the 17th century. Their evergreen nature even in winter and the ability to bloom in the shade made them highly popular. They are affectionately known as ‘Camellia’ in Europe and the Americas. Embraced in the world of art, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera ‘La Traviata’ is particularly famous. Numerous varieties with luxurious blooms based on Western aesthetic preferences were created. Among them, the Otome Tsubaki, originally from Japan, gained popularity when it was taken overseas during the Edo period, earning it the nickname ‘Winter Queen.’ It is characterized by the fact that the yellow stamens that characterize camellias are not visible, and it is called “Sen-e-zaki”. While blooming mostly from March to April, some varieties also flower in November and December. While the sasanqua flowers fall one by one, the camellia flowers fall off together, but this Otome Tsubaki’s flowers have a long shelf life and do not fall off easily, so the brown flowers often remain on the branches.
In the field where the frost has cleared, cabbages are lined up as far as the eye can see. Each cabbage, with its thick and large leaves, is tightly wrapped layer upon layer. Winter cabbage is characterized by its densely packed leaves, and the leaves are fleshy. When eaten raw, it has a firm and crunchy texture, and when cooked, its sweetness intensifies. This cabbage, native to Europe, is one of the oldest vegetables consumed since ancient Greek and Roman times. The wild variety did not form heads as it does now, but records from the 13th century in England mention cabbage forming heads. Introduced to Japan in 1709 by the Dutch in Nagasaki, it was initially cultivated as an ornamental plant known as “Habotan.” It wasn’t until the Meiji era that it became widely cultivated as a food crop, thanks to the introduction of heading cabbage. In ancient Rome and Greece, cabbage was consumed for its digestive health benefits. Today, there is still a digestive medicine called “Cabbagein,” derived from compounds extracted from cabbage.
