Risshu -- The Start of Autumn

What Is Risshu?

Around August 8th falls "Risshu" (立秋), one of the 24 solar terms of the traditional Japanese calendar, marking the day the sun reaches 135 degrees of celestial longitude. On the calendar, autumn is said to begin on this day.

The Gap Between the "Calendar's Autumn" and the Actual Heat

Risshu is the 13th of the 24 solar terms, following "Taisho" (Major Heat).

• Its place in the calendar: marks the calendar start of autumn, coming just after the period considered the hottest of the year
• The actual climate: intense lingering summer heat almost always continues well past Risshu, and this mismatch between the calendar and how the weather actually feels is a common topic of conversation
• A seasonal custom: summer greeting cards sent after Risshu switch from "midsummer greetings" to "lingering-heat greetings"

Why Call It "Autumn" When It's Still So Hot?

The 24 solar terms were established based on the climate of the Yellow River basin in ancient China, and don't always match Japan's actual climate. Even so, the term Risshu carries a cultural sensitivity to autumn's first faint signs -- an earlier sunset, a subtle change in the evening breeze.

Tips for Marking This Day

• If you haven't sent your midsummer greeting cards yet, switch to "lingering-heat greetings" from this day forward
• Look for hints of autumn in the evening sky or the changing breeze
• Try writing a haiku or tanka poem inspired by Risshu
• Take extra care of your health in preparation for the lingering summer heat ahead

The Footsteps of a Season, Approaching Even Amid the Heat

The heat remains intense this time of year, but Risshu marks the calendar's first step toward autumn. Around August 8th, take a moment to listen for the faint signs of autumn amid the sweltering summer heat.