2016.3.21

It was cloudy in the morning, but became fine in the afternoon.

Today was a transferred holiday of Vernal Equinox Day yesterday.  It is shunbun no hi (春分の日) in Japanese.  It is one of nijyushisekki (二十四節気), the 24 solar terms.  The last one was keichitsu (啓蟄) on March 5, and the next one is seimei (清明) on April 4. Equinoctial week is called  o higan (お彼岸).  We usually visit our family graveyard.  So I visited my parents' graveyard.

There is a saying "Atsusa samusa mo higan made (暑さ寒さも彼岸まで)" which means heat and cold lasts until equinoctial week. 
Today there was an announcement of blooming cherry blossoms in Tokyo.  This was two days earlier than last year, and 5 days earlier than usual. We feel spring has come.  We will be able to enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms for a week to 10 days.

2016.2.4

It was a cold fine day.

Today is risshun (立春), one of nijyushisekki (二十四節気), 24 solar terms. The last one is daikan (大寒) on January 21, and the next one is usui (雨水) on February 19.
Risshun literally means stand spring, and it is the first day of spring.
On calendar it is already spring even though it is still very cold.

But I feel the spring is coming because kawazu zakura (河津桜), one of the cherry blossoms which bloom in February, started blooming. They are bright pink and very beautiful. What is more, they last longer than somei yoshino (染井吉野) which bloom late March to early April.

2016.1.21

It was fine but cold.

Today is daikan (大寒) one of nijyushisekki (二十四節季), the 24 solar terms.  The last one was shokan (小寒) on January 6, and the next one is risshun (立春) on February 4.
Daikan literally means big cold and this is  the coldest season of the year.
Between shokan and risshun is called kan no uchi (寒の内), which means in the cold.

2015.12.7

It was fine.

Today is taisetsu (大雪), one of the nijyushisekki (二十四節季), the 24 solar terms.
The last one was shosetsu (小雪) on November 22 and the next one will be toji (冬至), winter solstice on December 22.

Taisetsu literally means big snow, and it is the time for heavy snow.

I bought a new pair of gloves last Saturday and started using them today.