Microseason: Frost Surrenders to Seedlings
SPRING
GRAIN RAIN
FROST SURRENDERS TO SEEDLINGS
25 - 29 April
Weather warms and frost surrenders, marking the preparation of seedbeds, or nawashiro. The sound of water being drawn into the paddies can be heard all across the countryside, and the earth is carefully leveled. This attention to detail in preparing the land has a direct correlation to the health of the rice as it grows. An masterful skill to ensure that harvest can sustain an entire community over a full year.
And it isn't just the activity of rice planting that's important. The before and after are also part of seasonal tradition. Before rice planting begins, we observe paddies reflecting blue sky and drifting clouds like mirrors, offering a breathtaking landscape. And after planting, we observe fields light up with fireflies.
Rice seed is first soaked to encourage germination, then sown across the prepared seedbed. The first paddy to fill with water becomes the nursery, where the tender sprout shows itself for the first time under the Spring sun. Japan is a water-rich nation and Haru, Spring, is a homonym for “swelling” with water or “drawing” of water. The vivid green of rice seedlings are not limited to the paddies. Water gives way to a spectrum of wakanaéiro, youthful seedling color. It’s the brilliant, fresh green of new sprouts and leaves that can only be seen between late Spring and early Summer.
Rice plays an essential role as far beyond its nutritional and cultural value as food. Its presence permeates various aspects of everyday living, from the fields, to the architectural construction, and even garments. Fermented rice straw is used in constructing tsuchikabe, earthen walls, mixed into the clay to create the resilient, breathable meat of the home to regulate humidity and temperature. Textiles dyed using natural pigments are often fixed with rice bran solutions, and paste made with rice porridge is used to create intricate color patterns without mixing or bleeding. Rice embodies a symbolic and practical presence. It serves as a reminder of the enduring relationship between natural resources and human culture. Thus, as the rice seedlings grow and the fields are readied for another season, the landscape reminds us of rice’s role as both a source of sustenance and expression.
The disappearance of frost is an essential milestone in the agricultural calendar. Rice fields, now free of the dangers posed by frost, prepare to embrace the vigorous growth of seedlings. However, it is important to note that the transition to warmer weather is not without its risks. The "forgotten frost of the 88th night" is a phrase referring to a late frost that often occurs in the period around 29 April - 2 May, just before the official start of Summer. Reminding us of the delicate undulation that occurs between seasons. Despite the warming days, this frost poses a serious threat to crops, particularly to newly sprouted rice and tea leaves, making for a critical period for farmers. The 88th night is known as the traditional tea-picking season, and a cue to begin sowing rice seedlings.
Photo credit: Momoko Nakamura