Japan in March
Solar terms this month: Insects Awaken, Spring Equinox.
Events and customs
- Martial ArtsEssential puro yakyuプロ野球Japanese professional baseball
- Annual EventsEssential hanami花見cherry blossom viewing
- Annual EventsEssential hinamatsuri雛祭りthe doll festival on March 3rd
- Modern JapanEssential kafunsho花粉症hay fever, mostly from cedar pollen
- Seasons & NatureEssential kosa黄砂the yellow dust blown in from deserts on the Asian continent
- Martial ArtsStandard high school baseball and Koshien高校野球と甲子園the national high school baseball tournament
- Martial ArtsStandard honbasho大相撲の本場所the six official grand sumo tournaments held each year
- ClothingStandard graduation hakama卒業式の袴the skirt-trousers worn at graduation
- Annual EventsStandard higan彼岸the weeks around the equinoxes when families visit graves
- HistoryStandard shudan shushoku集団就職the mass migration of young workers to the cities after the war
- Home & LivingStandard moving house paperwork引っ越しの手続きwhat you must file when you move
- Modern JapanStandard kakutei shinkoku確定申告filing your own tax return
- Seasons & NatureStandard sakura zensen桜前線the cherry blossom front
- Seasons & NatureStandard sugi杉the Japanese cedar
- Seasons & NatureStandard yukiguni雪国Japan's heavy snow regions
- Seasons & NatureStandard ume梅Japanese apricot blossom
- School LifeStandard graduation album卒業アルバムthe yearbook every class makes together before graduating
- School LifeStandard entrance and graduation ceremonies入学式と卒業式the formal ceremonies that open and close a school year
- Work CultureStandard shukatsu就活と新卒一括採用hiring an entire year group at once
- Work CultureStandard tenkin転勤company-ordered relocation
- Annual EventsAdvanced go-sekku五節句the five seasonal festivals of the old calendar
- Annual EventsAdvanced junisan mairi十三参りthe shrine visit at thirteen
- Work CultureAdvanced shunto春闘the spring wage round
Micro-seasons this month
- 6Grass and Trees Sprout草木萌動草木が芽を出しはじめるMarch 1〜
- 7Hibernating Insects Emerge蟄虫啓戸冬ごもりの虫が戸を開けて出てくるMarch 6〜
- 8Peach Blossoms Begin to Smile桃始笑桃の花が咲きはじめるMarch 11〜
- 9Caterpillars Become Butterflies菜虫化蝶青虫が蝶になるMarch 16〜
- 10Sparrows Start to Nest雀始巣すずめが巣を作りはじめるMarch 21〜
- 11Cherry Blossoms Open桜始開桜が咲きはじめるMarch 26〜
- 12Thunder Raises Its Voice雷乃発声遠くで春の雷が鳴りはじめるMarch 31〜