Vernal Equinoctial Week
(Haru-no Higan / 春の彼岸)

Vernal Equinoctial Week is from March 17th (Mon) to March 23rd (Sun), this year (2025).
 
Higan is the period of three days before and after the Vernal Equinox Day (March 20th in 2025). It becomes warmer around this period.
 
It is said that “heat and cold last until the equinox” (Atsusa samusa-mo higan-made).
This week has been quite chilly, but hopefully, spring will start to feel closer soon.
 
Higan (彼岸)” means another world. It originally meant spiritual enlightenment in Buddhism.
Today, it is a time when people visit their ancestors’ graves and offer botamochi at the family altar.
This custom is unique to Japan.
 

The photo below is of the rice cakes covered with bean jam (bota-mochi).
 


 

Their name changes depending on the season, and they are named after a seasonal flower.
 


 
It is called “bota-mochi (ぼたもち)” around the Vernal Equinox because it is the peony flower (Botan / 牡丹) season.
 

Around the Autumn Equinox, It is called “Ohagi (おはぎ)”, because it is the bush clover (Hagi / 萩) season.

 

 

 

 

 

Category : text @en

Tag : 24 divisions of the solar year , 24sekki , corona virus , COVID-19 , COVID19 , Emergency , Japanese culture , season , tanabata , The coronavirus , 日本の文化

Kagoshima-ken Gokoku Shraine <br />(鹿児島縣護国神社)

Kagoshima-ken Gokoku Shraine
(...

This shrine was built to enshrine the victim...

Museum of the Meiji Restoration (Ishin Furusato-kan / 維新ふるさと館)

Museum of the Meiji Restoration (Ishi...

Museum about the history of Kagoshima mainly...

Hirakawa Zoo

Hirakawa Zoo

Over 200 kinds animals including koalas, Pol...

Goromon gate at the ruins of Kagoshima Castle

Goromon gate at the ruins of Kagoshim...

Goromon is the largest castle gate in Japan,...

Kurokami Buried Shrine Gate

Kurokami Buried Shrine Gate

The ash and the pumice of the huge eruption ...

Ruin of Tsurumaru Castle. Kagoshima prefectural historical museum「REIMEIKAN」

Ruin of Tsurumaru Castle. Kagoshima p...

The castle which was built by the 18th lord ...

Amami Oshima

Amami Oshima

The island is blessed with the cobalt blue s...

Yoron

Yoron

Yoron is a small but the first class resort ...

Jambo-mochi

Jambo-mochi

Jambo is Kagoshima's local sweet. It is rice...

Mishima Islands & Toshima Islands

Mishima Islands & Toshima Islands

Non touristic but beautiful islands remain l...

Waterfront’s New Spot “DOLPHIN PORT”

Waterfront’s New Spot “DO...

Kagoshima's newest spot "Dolphin Port" opene...

Kagoshima City Aquarium “Io World”

Kagoshima City Aquarium “Io Wor...

The aquarium introduces sea creatures which ...

May , 2025

U M T W R F S
 
  
   
    
1    
2    
3    
4    
5    
6    
7    
8    
9    
10    
11    
12    
13    
14    
15    
16    
17    
18    
19    
20    
21    
22    
23    
24    
25    
26    
27    
28    
29    
30    
31    

Event & Art

Shibushi Oshaka Matsuri Festival 2025

Shibushi Oshaka Matsuri Fes...

start : Apr. 28, 2025〜Apr. 29, 2025

KAGOSHIMA MARATHON 2025

KAGOSHIMA MARATHON 2025

start : Mar. 02, 2025

【The Girls‘ Festival Event】<br />GIRLS’ FESTIVAL at IRIKI-FUMOTO “KAENSOYA”

【The Girls‘ Festival Event...

start : Mar. 01, 2025

Food & Drink