Usui is one of the 24th solar term, when snow turns to rain.
It’s still cold and hot tea is the best drink of the season. This is the time when confectionery shops, both Japanese and Western styles, start selling gorgeous tea sweets for Hanami season. From this time until the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, it can be said that the confectionery department is at its most opulent.
Usui 24 divisions of the old calendar ‘Nijushi sekki’
In the lunar calendar, it is the 15th day after Risshun. According to the current calendar, it is around the 19th of February. It is the season of melting snow and what falls from the sky changes from snow to rain. Usui is the word for rainwater.The melting of the snow on the ground was a signal for the start of farming. In mid-February, however, the north parts of Japan is still covered in snow.
72 Divisions of the solar year ‘Shichijuni-ko’
1. The soil is moistened Around 19th February
It represents the time of year when the snow on the surface of the earth, frozen for the winter, melts and the soil becomes moist. At this time the plants start to get ready to bud. The buds of the plum trees, which start to swell around Risshun, are now in full bloom.
The festival of otters
The seventy-two divisions of the solar year was originally derived from the Chinese calendar, but it was changed in the Edo period (1603-1868) to suit the Japanese climate and seasons. The first 72 divisions of “usui” was originally described as “the festival of otters”. The otter’s habit was not to eat the fish it catches straight away, but to leave them on the rocks. It was said to have become a term to describe the season, because it looked like an offering to the ancestors at the New Year in the lunar calendar.
2. Haze begins to form Around 24th February
As the freezing winter wind disappears and the breeze softens on the cheeks, a haze starts to form. The air is dry during winter, but as the weather warms up, the air becomes more humid.The moisture forms a haze that covers the fields and mountains.
Haze on the Japanese classical literature
A famous classic describing haze is “The Pillow Book” by Sei Shonagon. Especially the spring part is often used to introduce the book.
“For spring, it is the dawn that is most beautiful. The skies on top of mountains become lighter and lighter with the rising of the sun.The long thin clouds that turn light purple are a sight to be enjoyed, too.”
This phrase describes haze well in Japan.
3. Plants and trees sprout Around 29th February
This is the time of year when the early spring sunshine brings the first buds to the trees and plants. The young shoots have a more yellowish color.
Sweets for Usui
Uguisu Mochi
A lovely mochi cake in the shape of a Japanese bush warbler, with a soft and fluffy appearance reminiscent of the bird. Anko (sweet red bean paste) is wrapped in a thin, soft mochi and sprinkled with green soybean flour. The edges are slightly pointed to resemble the shape of a bird. The Japanese bush warbler is a herald of spring.It is said that it was the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi who named the Uguisu Mochi.
Red Plum Blossom
In February and March, plum blossoms bloom before the other blossoms come. Even in spring on the old calendar, when the weather is bitterly cold in February, these lovely, fragrant flowers are full of grace. The petals of the red plum tree are prettier than those of the graceful white plum tree.
The contrast between the white of the kaishi paper and the color of the red plum confectionery is beautiful. The sweetness of the smooth green bean paste is washed down with tea.
