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). Depending on the year it falls on March 5 or 6, and the name also refers to the period up to the next solar term, Shunbun (the spring equinox). "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 and Daily Life Around Keichitsu

An Edo-period guide to the calendar, "Koyomi Binran," describes Keichitsu as the time when "warmth stirs underground, and curled-up insects open their burrows and come out."

• The first micro-season: In the traditional 72 micro-seasons, Keichitsu begins with "Sugomori mushi to wo hiraku" -- "hibernating insects open their doors."
• 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 custom meant to trap and destroy pests. Recent surveys, however, have found that the wraps catch more beneficial insects than pests, and some areas have stopped the practice.

Keichitsu is a milestone that lets us feel the shift from winter to spring close at hand.

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.
• Warmer with every rain: Around this time, people say it "gets warmer with each rainfall," as the weather swings back and forth on its way to spring.

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."
• "Mushidashi no kaminari": The first thunder after the start of spring is sometimes called "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 sunny, dry day to avoid moisture.
• Spring wild vegetables: Butterbur sprouts (fukinotō), horsetail shoots (tsukushi), and bracken fern (warabi) all start to appear around this time. As an old saying goes, "bitterness in spring, vinegared dishes in summer, spice in autumn, and oil in winter" -- enjoying these slightly bitter flavors is part of Japan's seasonal food culture.
• The next micro-seasons: Keichitsu's second and third micro-seasons are "Momo hajimete saku" (peach trees begin to bloom) and "Namushi chō to naru" (caterpillars become butterflies).

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. The Keichitsu season 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

Keichitsu marks the season when 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.