Keichitsu (Awakening of Insects)

What Is Keichitsu?

"Keichitsu" is the third of the 24 traditional solar terms (sekki) of the Japanese calendar, falling around March 5 each year (March 5 in 2026). "Kei" means "to open," and "chitsu" refers to insects hibernating underground. It marks the time when the earth warms enough for hibernating insects to sense the arrival of spring and emerge from the soil -- a vibrant turning point that signals the true start of spring.

Nature's Biorhythm: The Facts Behind Keichitsu

Keichitsu isn't just a poetic term on the calendar -- it's closely tied to real ecological changes in plants and animals.

• Rising ground temperature: As the sun's warmth increases, the temperature underground rises, and cold-blooded creatures such as insects, frogs, and snakes resume activity.
• Removing "komo" wraps: Around Keichitsu, the straw mats (komo) that were wrapped around pine trees in winter to trap and later burn harmful insects are removed and burned -- a clever method of pest control developed by farmers long ago, timed to catch the pests before they wake and disperse.

If Kagami Biraki on January 11 takes place amid the quiet stillness of winter, March 5 is the day when that dormant energy begins to burst forth.

A Guide for Farming and the Seasons

Keichitsu has long served as an important marker for the start of farm work.

• Spring farm preparations: Watching for insects to become active was a cue for farmers to begin tilling fields and preparing for planting -- a vivid example of how the traditional calendar helped people read nature's signals and align their daily rhythms with it.
• "Ichi-u ichi-do" (one rain, one degree): Around this time, there's a saying that "with each rainfall, the temperature rises by one degree" -- reflecting the genuinely observed pattern of unstable but steadily warming weather as spring approaches.

Fascinating Facts About Keichitsu

• The definition of "insects": In ancient times, the "insects" of Keichitsu referred not just to insects in the modern sense, but to frogs, snakes, lizards, and other creatures collectively thought of as "creatures of the earth."
• "Hatsu-raidachi" (the first thunder): Thunder heard around Keichitsu is sometimes called "mushidashi no kaminari" -- "the thunder that startles insects awake."
• Time to put away the hina dolls: After the Hinamatsuri Doll Festival on March 3, Keichitsu is considered a good time to pack the dolls away -- ideally on a dry, low-humidity day.
• Spring wild vegetables: Butterbur sprouts (fukinotō), horsetail shoots (tsukushi), and bracken fern (warabi) all start to appear around this time. Eating their slightly bitter flavors, which have detoxifying properties, is part of the cultural shift toward "spring mode" eating.
• Migratory birds: As insects become active again, migratory birds that feed on them also become more active and begin their journeys north.

Awaken Body and Mind Along with Nature

Keichitsu is a day when what was frozen begins to thaw, and energy stored inside begins to move outward. Just as insects that quietly waited out winter underground now emerge to greet spring, this is a wonderful time to start turning the ideas and passions you've been holding onto into action. March 5 is an ideal moment to put on new clothes, start a new habit, and take that first step out of your own "hibernation" into a new world.

Tips for Enjoying Keichitsu

• Look for small flowers and insects beginning to stir at your feet -- observe spring's quiet, small-scale arrival in nature.
• Add spring wild vegetables and seasonal produce to your meals to refresh your body from the inside with the stimulation of spring.
• Open all the windows in your home to let in fresh air, clearing out the stale air of winter and welcoming in the spirit of spring.
• Set today as the day to take the "first step" toward something you want to try or start this year.

The Pulse That Shakes the Earth Drives the Future Forward

March 5 is the day your own potential breaks through the soil and begins to sprout. Just as nature renews itself with such vigor, may your everyday life also fill with new hope and vitality, taking on vivid new colors. May today be the perfect "awakening" -- the day you find the energy to get up and step boldly toward a brighter place.