“Soukou” in 2023 is October 23 or 24.
According to the fixed-air method, it is when the solar longitude is at 210 degrees. According to the equilibrium method, it will be around October 22, about 304.37 days after the winter solstice. From there, about 15 days will be known as “Soukou”.
According to the “Koyomi Handbook,” this is the time when “dew is bound by the “Kanki” (cold air) and becomes frost.
It is also around this time that the autumn leaves can be seen. The wind that blows from this day until the next solar term (Rittou) is called “kogarashi”.
Traditional custom (風習)
It is also around this time that people start preparing for winter. We begin to change clothes and prepare heating equipment.
Also, good autumn foods are autumn salmon and persimmons.
Although not a Japanese custom, October 31 is Halloween. It is a Western culture to celebrate the autumn harvest and to ward off evil spirits, but it has become completely customary since the season fits with Japan as well.
Seventy Two Appearances (七十二候)
The 24 seasons each divide three seasons and further express the subtle changes in seasons. These are referred to as the “72 appearances” and were commonly used, especially in agriculture, in ancient Japan and China.
初候 (1st 5days) (Japan）霜始降 Frost begins to fall.
（China）豺乃祭獣 Wild dogs line up and eat the beasts they catch.
次候 (2nd 5days) (Japan）霎時施 Drizzling rain begins to fall.
（China）草木黄落 Leaves of grass and trees begin to turn yellow and fall.
末候 (Last 5days) (Japan）楓蔦黄 Maple and ivy turn yellow.
（China）蟄虫咸俯 All insects burrow into holes and stop moving.
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