Full Entries

haru : Spring

The Season

risshun , beginning of spring
hinaga , day(s) lengthening

The Heavens

oboro , misty (night) / hazy (night)
kasumi , (spring) mist

The Earth

haru ta , spring paddy field(s)
zansetsu , remaining snow

Daily Life

tanemaki , seed-planting
shiohi , low tide

Observances

hina , (ceremonial) doll(s)
henro , pilgrim

Animals

neko no koi , cats' love
kawazu , frog(s)

Plants

ume , plum (blossoms)
hana , (cherry) blossoms
yanagi , willow(s) / weeping willow(s)

natsu : Summer

The Heavens

kumo no mine , peaks of clouds
tsuyu , rainy season
niji , rainbow
kaminari , thunder

The Earth

aota , green (rice) paddy/paddies
izumi , wellspring
taki , waterfall / cascade / rapids

Daily Life

yukata , summer kimono / yukata
mushiboshi , airing out
taue , rice planting
hanabi , fireworks

Observances

tango , Boys' Day
matsuri , festival

Animals

hototogisu , little cuckoo
ayu , ayu / sweetfish
hotaru , firefly/fireflies
semi , cicada / locust

Plants

botan , tree peony
u-no-hana , deutzia flowers
kakitsubata , blue flag
ukikusa , duckweed

aki : Autumn

The Season

aki no kure , autumn dusk / autumn twilight
yonaga , long night(s)
sawayaka , fresh / refreshing / crisp
aki fukashi , autumn (is) deep

The Heavens

aki no koe , voices of autumn
iwashigumo , mackerel clouds / cirro-cumulus
tsuki , moon
amanogawa , Milky Way
inazuma , heat lightning / lightning
tsuyu , dew

The Earth

hanano , flowery field(s) / flowery moor(s) / flower-field(s)

Daily Life

kakashi , scarecrow
inekari , rice reaping / rice harvesting

Observances

chōyō , Chrysanthemum Festival
tanabata , Tanabata / Festival of the Weaver
urabon , Bon Festival / Lantern Festival / Festival of the Dead

Animals

shika , deer
wataridori , migratory birds / birds of passage

Plants

momiji , red leaves / red (maple) leaves
asagao , morning-glory/glories
hagi , bush clover
susuki , pampas grass

fuyu : Winter

The Season

koharu , little spring
tanjitsu , short day(s)
setsubun , seasonal divide

The Heavens

shigure , (winter) shower/drizzle
shimo , frost
yuki , snow

The Earth

kareno , withered field
kōri , ice
tsurara , icicle

Daily Life

futon , futon
kari , hunting
takibi , (open) fire / bonfire
toshi-wasure , year-end party

Observances

toshi-no-ichi , year-end market/fair
bashō-ki , Bashō's (Death) Anniversary / Bashō's Memorial Day

Animals

taka , hawk
fugu , puffer / blowfish / globefish

Plants

sazanka , sasanqua
ochiba , fallen leaves
kare-obana , withered pampas grass

shinnen : New Year

The Season

ganjitsu , New Year's Day

The Heavens

hatsuzora , first sky

New Year: The Earth.

hatsu fuji , first Mt. Fuji

Daily Life

zōni iwau , (to) celebrate with zōni
kadomatsu , (New Year's) gate pine(s)
shishimai , lion dance

Observances

hatsu-mōde , first (temple/shrine) visit

Animals

hatsu-suzume , first sparrow

Plants

shida , fern