Watanuki Day (Removing the Winter Padding)

What Is Watanuki?

April 1 is traditionally known as "Watanuki" -- a turning point on the calendar. In old Japan, people wore padded winter garments called "wataire," filled with cotton wadding for warmth. On April 1, the custom was to remove ("nuki") this cotton padding and remake the garment into a lighter, lined spring garment called an "awase." This practice symbolized the end of the harsh winter and the arrival of true spring warmth -- an early form of seasonal wardrobe-switching that reflects Japan's delicate sense of the seasons and a culture of valuing one's belongings.

A Surname and a Piece of History

The unusual Japanese surname written as "4/1" (Shigatsu Tsuitachi) but read as "Watanuki" comes directly from this custom.

• The origin of the surname: Before the Edo period, accurately reading the seasons was essential for survival. The custom of preparing clothing on a specific date became symbolically embedded as a surname -- and people with the surname "Watanuki" (written "April 1st") still exist in Japan today, a rare but historically rich name.
• An official wardrobe calendar: During the Edo period, the shogunate strictly regulated the dates for seasonal clothing changes. From April 1 to May 4, wearing the lined "awase" garment was the official rule -- an entire society shifting its wardrobe together on a set schedule.

The Science of Clothing and Body Temperature

Removing the cotton padding was also a scientifically sound way of regulating body temperature.

• Controlling the insulating air layer: The warmth of a padded garment comes from a layer of trapped, still air between the fibers, which acts as insulation. Removing this padding as temperatures rise in April helps the body release excess heat, maintaining a comfortable temperature suited to spring's milder climate.
• Effects on the nervous system: Choosing appropriate clothing for seasonal transitions helps stabilize the autonomic nervous system. Properly regulating body temperature can prevent "temperature-change fatigue" and help avoid the malaise sometimes associated with seasonal transitions, such as the springtime slump some people experience.

Fascinating Facts About Watanuki

• The roots of "koromogae" (seasonal clothing change): This custom traces back to a Heian-period court ritual called "kōi," originally observed on April 1 and October 1.
• An early form of sustainability: People in earlier times treated fabric with great care -- adding padding for winter, removing it for spring, and using worn-out cloth as rags until it could no longer serve any purpose. Watanuki symbolizes a culture that practiced what we'd now call "upcycling" and "reuse" as part of everyday life.
• A seasonal word in haiku: In haiku poetry, "watanuku" (removing the padding) is a seasonal word for mid-spring (around March-April), evoking the feeling of being freed from winter's heaviness and becoming lighter in body and spirit.
• Other calendar-based surnames: Beyond "Watanuki" (written "April 1st"), there's also the surname "Hozumi" (written "August 1st"), referring to the time for harvesting rice ears -- another example of how closely Japanese life was tied to agriculture and the calendar.
• The modern "Watanuki": While literally removing cotton padding from clothes isn't common today, putting away down jackets and bringing out spring coats serves as the modern equivalent of this seasonal ritual.

Tips for the Watanuki Season

• Take care of the heavy coats and thick blankets that kept you warm through winter, and put them away with gratitude -- refreshing both your space and your mindset for "spring mode."
• Around April 1 (Watanuki Day), organize your closet and improve airflow in your space, physically making room for new good fortune in the new fiscal year.
• Just as you remove the padding from your clothes, let go of the "winter weight" in your mind -- old worries or attachments -- and prepare to step lightly and freely into a new environment.
• Enjoy the feel of lightweight natural fabrics like cotton or linen in the spring sunlight, and take a moment to feel in sync with nature's rhythms.

The Moment You Shed Your Heavy Layers, Your Heart Takes Flight Toward New Hope

April 1 is a day to bid farewell to the cotton padding that protected you through the harsh winter, and to embrace the lightness needed to feel the spring breeze on your skin. When what covers you becomes lighter, your steps naturally become lighter too, and your view of the world opens up. The lesson of Watanuki is the importance of adapting yourself, flexibly, to changes in season and circumstance. While honoring what's come before, refit yourself into the shape that best suits who you are now, and begin a fresh new story with a clear heart. A boundlessly light and bright spring awaits you.