#shunbun

[emilysdiaryofficial]

Just a potato princess ready to serve~♡

[roahmwhosthatpokemon]

Shunbun the Enamorus (Incarnate)

Of all things for Legends Arceus to bring us, I was not expecting another in the “Forces of Nature” group as I guess they’re called?  I usually referred to the original three as the “Oni Trio.”  It is interesting sometimes to see new additions or forms of old “lesser” legendary groups.  Someday I’d be interested to see either new forms or a new addition to the Johto beast trio...

[sakuraminka]

Himekuri・Spring 4/3

Today’s Daily Calendar Page今日の日めくり「春4月3日」 Silhouette of the Day今日のシルエット Today’s silhouette is of Karikaeru (Geese Returning Home)「雁帰る（かりかえる、かりかへる）」. 今日のシルエットは、「雁帰る（かりかえる、かりかへる）」のものです。 Musingsさりげない考え In springtime we tend to talk of animals ending hibernation or returning to a summer nesting habitat. But we also need to be mindful that springtime also represents a time for other creatures to…

[forsythia4]

水的序幕 ; a water's dream.

THE RED CROWNED CRANE & THE PHOENIX: A PROLOGUE.

read description & click for chapters.

Sotomichi.

IN THE MONTH OF KEICHITSU, WHEN THE PEACH BLOSSOMS BEGIN TO BLOOM, with his spirit lamp lit and bamboo pipe elevated, Father is a worn man, lined with wrinkles, strained by time. The scent of opium burns ripe and hauntingly sweet, Father’s lids flutter in euphoria, a kind of blissful apathy. The sun bleeds, and the breath of a thousand buds dance for death. His lips pucker like poppies in full bloom under the first glimpse of the rising sun of the East. Other than opioids and his arrogance, he has only tendered the lips of his art. His hands birth his pride, his art he wears like a tanchōzuru (red-crowned crane) perched like a crown of his ego. Brushstrokes weave intricate dynamics on porcelain, sometimes between a red-crowned crane and a bird of paradise, but if you’re lucky, a perfect lotus moon and the ornate peacock. 

“The art flows like water. The porcelain is like a woman. You paint and you draw, you bend and you curve her just as you like. The color she bears winds at your will. The brush is yours, they bleed and you come alive.”  Father’s words echo through your solitary midnight loiters outside the kiln, but a crackle of fire spits and you remember convincing yourself you’re tired before your head begins to ache, like it always does when you think of punishment for eavesdropping.

A strike of Father's hand, and you know his art is not yours, his legacy is not yours to carry. Why would a woman need to carry a legacy, except only ones of her children? “Not your burden, my dove. A bud like you needs to grow! A beautiful young lady you reckon she will be, don’t you, Suzume?” Mother nods, just like she always does. Agreeable. Compliant. Docile. Performative. Sometimes, she even dishes out a smile if Mr. Hasegawa comes to visit for tea. Braced posture and bad breath often crouches down, lingering around for a chance to catch a lucky glimpse of a spark, a spurt of swelling beauty within you, for perfection, gifted by the kami in return for Mother’s good graces to the shrines, for in her most perversely wondrous dreams, you are a moon-faced girl with a crescent for lips and porcelain-white skin; you are Benzaiten’s pearl, patron goddess of the fabled geishas residing in the Imperial Capital.

Now, when will you be branded with a price? A tag? Hasegawa’s ninth visit, and you are still a bud unripe. A disgraceful daughter granted by the gods! Sons assume trades and thrones, but daughters will swallow the sun and still assume brooms, buckets, and the ballooning belly of a baby at the end of the day. Father swears he must have been cursed his last life for you to have such ill-fitting features belonging to a woman. A daughter’s betrayal is your skin bruised plum purple, your cheeks stained wet with tears and thrice kissed for daring to be the dishonor and shame of the family. 

However, you'd rather be kissed by the truth of the girl you choose to be than the role of a woman you're expected to assume. Your art is your vow. Nimble fingers trace delicate enamel glaze, figuring Nonomura Ninsei’s refined style, and dreams of washing up on Hishu’s wide export market overturn an ache in your belly – that was your dream. Porcelain painting, specialized artistry in characterizing wares mark your identity. Every brushstroke, every glaze, every ember to a flame is a bond to the birth of life breathed into your art. The red-crowned crane spreads her wings and sets the sun ablaze. That was your dream come alive.

North Kohama.

IN THE MONTH OF SHUNBUN, WHEN THE SWALLOWS FLUTTER AND BUILD THEIR NESTS, vengeance paints the horizon with her blood, rot of sin. Mizu remembers the fowler's snare, deliverance at hand. Each hammer and each burst of a swordsmith’s flame is for each swell of the tide that is her rage. Heating. Hammering. Folding steel. The work of a bladesmith: that is her honored duty, sacred. 

But as dusk envelopes into midnight, Mizu dances with water. She readies her stance, an obvious, clumsy edge to the flow. “The form of water is sleek, it is agile. It curves and dances with the torrent in one single harmony. Through that bond unified, water snaps and severs the cord, vicious and refined.” Eiji sounds, feeling the rumble of the ground with every swing of the youngster’s movement. “She does not crash. Water begins by swelling within her rage. Unspoken viciousness speaks louder than any inferno stubborn and ill-disciplined. Tame the waters first, let it flow, and then strike.” 

Mizu pants, feeling the dirt gather beneath her feet, concentrating the core of her energy, directing her strength to the blade. “You know that better than anyone. It is in your name, Mizu.” Child of the Sea, Tears of Rain, set it free. The bamboo severs into half, the seed of doubt sinks into an empty shell. The deed is done, but the will is not yet finished. A swell of pride soon sweeps the wind of rage away, burying the youth’s heart in a wild, unrelenting restlessness. The minute stream of a feeling akin to achievement throbs against her bones. Back then, when her heart felt anything at all. The innocent yearning to stubbornly hope, a kind of pigheaded faith to innocently dream, gushes like a tide.

Those who dare to dream are fools, Mizu tells herself, but still, she clings onto that childlike wanderlust she once buried within her breast in the sweet space of her memories. The distance between tunnels of blurred echoes calling for her past, calling her name, calling for the wild-hearted. That was Mother’s voice. When all was good, all was plentiful, when her heart was an abundance of a sort of messiness akin to love. When the spring tasted the sweetest, when the breeze swept against her ankles and shaven head, when all was close to home. What did home feel like again? It's slipping away from her dirt-soiled hands, more than stubby fingers could ever count.

Mama. Mother. When will we fawn at the moon and stars again? Together or never, that is my promise to you. If dreams make me a fool, then I'd be one for you to come alive. 

Now, when the sky falls with her tears scald hot on Mizu’s cheeks, her heart is patterned like a tortoise’s shell, cracked and fractured. Hardened.

Sotomichi.

IT IS A SUBTLE STRIKE. The lash of lightning: the defiance of sweet, spring skies. Mother's back bled and lined by Father's cruelty; blemish of a fading beauty succumbing to bruises ripe rogue. You love her so dearly, you wish you weren't born the way beaten mandarins were thrown away as scum of the earth. In every wooden plaque perfumed with your desire, every token to the shrine grasped with earnest prayer, you cling onto the hope you'd make Mother happy one day.

You'd be a great artisan. The greatest Tokugawa Japan has ever witnessed. The artisan cracked through the barricades of her confinement as a woman, an utter breakthrough into legacy and history as Japan knew it. The world will know your name. Then, Mother would be happy and Mr. Hasegawa would finally go away.

But dreams are only a sweet, mirage of endless ache, never a guarantee of fruitful worth.

© work belongs to @forsythia4 & reblogs are highly appreciated!

[depressedhatakekakashi]

A New Book For Your Collection

Pairing: Kakagai

Words: 2,741

Konoha was quieter than usual.

Everywhere he looked there was less activity. People walked a little faster, waving to the friends they spotted in the street before continuing forward without uttering a single word. There were multiple stores with line ups all the way out the doors, yet it seemed like no one was saying a word.

Not even the shop keepers uttered greetings when a customer approached them, and they stayed equally as quiet when the customer paid and made their exit.

The village was busy, but no one was saying a thing.

“Lost in their thoughts,” he sighed, cringing when he heard his own voice cutting through the silent air, breaking the tranquility of the village for just a second before it settles back into place. Not wanting to shatter that silence again, he opted for a silent communication of his own.

‘Did I forget something important?’ 

Projecting an image of a calendar in his mind, he searched the dates for any special event. A birthday, or an anniversary, or anything that would explain the eerie silence that hovered over the village.

‘The Kyuubi’s attack happened in october,’ images of the burning ruins of Konoha homes popped into his mind, followed closely by the pictures of the dead that had lined the cemetary afterward. As soon as Minato-Sensei’s picture began to materialise he shoved the thought out of his head, refusing to deal with the emotions that swelled inside of him whenever he dared to think of the Sensei he lost so many years ago. ‘It’s March, so the cherry blossoms should be falling soon. Oh, and there’s Shunbun No hi but that’s still not for a few days.’

“Kakashi!” A cheerful voice cut through the air, shattering the tranquil silence that he had come to enjoy and causing multiple nearby civilians to turn their heads in search of the enthusiastic voice.

Kakashi didn’t have to look to know who it was. There was only one person who would call out to him with such excitement in their voices. One person who had the ability to pull him out of his own thoughts and make him smile, though that smile was perfectly covered by his mask.

“Gai,” an arm dropped around his shoulder and tugged him against his side. Turning his head just a little, he sniffed the air around him.

Gai’s voice had been enough to pull him out of his thoughts, but it was the smell of grass mixed with a light wiff of dango that consumed him. For just a moment that smell was all he could register, and with each breath he took it overwhelmed his senses, shoving past every ache that had radiated from his muscles after a long mission and forcing his body to relax. 

“You made it home safe,” Gai spoke softly, but there was a question hidden in his words. A silent finger prodding Kakashi in the side, demanding that he tell him about any injuries he had sustained during his mission.

“Home safe,” he confirmed, holding up his right arm to show the one lone cut across the back of his forearm that he’d sustained while deflecting his opponents attack. “The village is rather quiet today. Know why?”

Gai’s eyes lit up with excitement. “You didn’t hear?”

“I just got home, so no,” he confirmed. “What is it? Something fun I’m guessing since you look like you’re about to explode with excitement.”

“Tsunade-Sama announced it just yesterday,” Kakashi could feel the energy radiating off of Gai. Contained, but ready to burst forth at a moments notice and consume Gai until he was jumping off of tree’s and buildings in hopes of spending just a small fraction of it. “She called it ‘Folktales and Fables week. It starts tomorrow.”

Kakashi’s ears perks up at the mention of ‘Folktales’. “Oh?” his left eyebrow arched upward. “Still, that doesn’t really explain, you know,” he waved his hand toward the market where people continued to exist without making a single sound. An eerie, rather unnerving experience in a village that was always so busy with noise. 

“Well, Tsunade-sama challenged everyone to think up their favorite fable today,” Gai continued, his smile growing even wider. “She wants every single person in Konoha to write down what their favorite fable is and turn it in at the Hokage’s residence when they go in to receive their new book.”

Suddenly all thoughts of the eerie quitness of the village left Kakashi’s mind. “Book?” he asked, pushing for even more information. 

Taking the hint, Gai grinned. “Folktales and Fables week officially starts tonight. To welcome in the week, Tsunade-Sama is going to have all of the Jonin standing outside of the Hokage’s compound handing out books of fables that she had written by one of Konoha’s best writers.”

“I didn’t realize Jiraiya-Sama was in the village?”

The smile dropped off of Gai’s face. “I said one of Konoha’s best writers, Rival. Not one of our most perverted writers.”

The worst struck hard, wounding Kakashi’s heart, but he did his best not to show that hurt on his face. It was simply Gai’s opinion that Jiraiya-Sama wasn’t a good writer. A wrong opinion, but still just an opinion.

“Well, does that mean-”

Gai rolled his eyes. “Of course you’ll be getting one as well. In fact,” reaching back into his weapon’s pouch, he pulled out a beautiful green book and held it up between them so that the cover was facing Kakashi. “Tsunade-sama gave us all one ahead of everyone else. She asked me to deliver yours to you personally.”

“Did she really?” Kakashi asked, his eyes following the golden writing as it curved around the cover to form a beautiful cover that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. 

‘Folktales and Fables of Konoha.’

His finger’s itched to reach out and claim the book from Gai, but he refrained. It was obvious by the way his friend waved the book around that he was trying to taunt Kakashi into snatching it away from him, but he refused to give in. He would claim the book when he was ready to and not a moment sooner. Not even if Gai turned it just right so the sun bounced off of the golden title causing it to shimmer. 

“What kind of stories are in it?” he asked, his eyes glued on the book.

“Oh, all kinds,” Gai’s smile grew, stretching from one ear all the way to the other. “Tsunade-sama actually asked us all to submit our favorite folktale or fable so that she could ask for it to be included. That was a few months ago when you were on your mission in the Land of Wind with Asuma.”

A whimper escaped Kakashi’s throat, but rather than expressing embarrassment with the unfiltered response, he turned his face away from Gai and tried his best to refrain from pouting. 

He’d missed it.

Not only the announcement of a week dedicated to folktales and fables, which were some of his favorite stories to read if he wasn’t consumed in the latest copy of Icha Icha or a pretty new romance novel, but he’d missed out on an opportunity to have his favorite fable included in the special book that was made to commemorate the new week.

It seemed rather unfair, but he was an adult. A shinobi of Konoha.

He was not going to cry over a book. Not in public where everyone could see him, at least. 

“Oh, Kakashi,” Gai’s arm dropped off of his shoulder suddenly, and in the blink of an eye his Rival is standing directly in front of him with the softest expression he has ever seen. Kind, black eyes staring into Kakashi’s one visible eye with such love that he was pretty sure he would melt. “You didn’t think I’d let them forget about the Rabbit on the moon, did you?”

At times like this Kakashi appreciated his mask more than ever. Without it the brilliant hue of red he could feel crawling up into his cheeks would be visible for all to see causing everyone in the village to gossip about how easily Maito Gai could make ‘stone cold Kakashi’ blush.

Most of the time he didn’t care too much about the villagers gossip, but if his students caught wind of this he would never hear the end of it.

Somehow three sixteen year olds were far more capable of making his life difficult than an entire village of experienced gossipers. Especially when one took Sakura into consideration.

She could easily make his life more difficult than it already was if she knew that out of everyone in Konoha, it was Maito Gai who held his heart. 

Clearing his throat he quickly shoved all those those thoughts to the back of his mind. “So,” he returned his full attention to Gai. “What do I owe you?”

Gai stared at him with a blank expression for just a moment before breaking out into a smile. “You know me too well, Rival,” shoving the book toward Kakashi he waited for him to finally give in and take hold of it before releasing his hold throwing a ‘thumbs up’ out in front of him. “One challenge should be sufficient payment.”

An expected response.

“One challenge,” Kakashi agreed with a sharp nodd of his head, his eyes fixing themselves on the book now sitting in his hands. Following the soft gold writing on the cover he couldn’t help but smile. “And dinner.”

Gai was in the middle of turning around, no doubt having already decided on what their challenge would be, when Kakashi added his second offer. Rather than stopping in the midst of his turn, Gai continued with ease and stopped at a three hundred and sixty degree turn, returning to the exact same position he’d been in before Kakashi opened his mouth.

“What did you say?” his eyes narrowed and his lips pressed together into a thin line. 

“I said one challenge,” stepping forward, Kakashi lifted his book and gently bonked it against Gai’s forehead. “And Dinner. My treat.”

“Dinner as in-”

“No eating contest,” once again he bonked his friend’s forehead, this time earning himself a slap to the wrist for the insult. “We’ll do a competition first and then we’ll go out to dinner,” pulling his book back he took one more look at it and smiled even widder. “And then maybe, if you’re nice, we can go back to my house and-”

A hand came down hard against his mouth. “Kakashi!” Gai hissed, his eyes darting around the area. Thankfully everyone around them had lost interest in what they were doing a while, but that knowledge didn’t seem to stop Gai from examining the area once more before focusing on Kakashi. “You can’t say things like that in public.”

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what Gai was hinting at. 

What was meant to be a sweet gesture had been misunderstood as something vulgar. An unsurprising turn of events considering the things the two of them could get up to when they were in the privacy of their homes.

Grabbing hold of Gai’s wrist with his free hand, Kakashi gently pulled his hand away from his mouth. “Let me finish,” he insisted, scolding Gai with a stern look when he opened his mouth to protest once again. “I was going to say ‘I can read the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi’ but if all you have on your mind is undressing me we could do that too.”

There was no scenario where Kakashi would turn down an opportunity to drag his eternal rival into bed. 

“N- no! That- i mean-” cutting himself off, Gai took a step back and closed his eyes. As Kakashi watched him he drew in a deep breath, held it for exactly five seconds, and then released. Once that was done he opened his eyes and flashed one of those bright toothy grins that was sure to blind a person if the sun hit it just right. 

“Don’t worry,” taking a step forward, Kakashi reach up and gripped the top of his mask. In one fluid motion he yanked the mask down and closed the distance between them. His lips pressed against Gai’s cheek for a quick second before he stepped back and returned the mask to its rightful place. “I can always read to you after we’re done.”

If Kakashi squinted he could almost steam rising off of Gai’s head. The embarrassment he’d felt earlier from Gai’s overwhelming thoughtfulness had been returned ten fold, though Kakashi was no where near as touching in his affections. Not in public, at least. Gai would have to wait until they were somewhere private to see that side of Kakashi. 

“So,” taking a step past Gai he refrained from chuckling when he heard his rival scrambling to turn around. “You have one challenge. What do you choose?”

Feeling Gai’s shoulder bumping against his he glanced to his side and smiled when he saw his friend walking at his side with a proud air hanging around him. “One challenge,” he mused, making a show of turning his eyes up to the sky and thinking over his options. “How about a spar?”

“It has been a while since we had a proper spar,” Kakashi agreed. “Taijutsu only?”

“That seems a little unfair,” Gai snickered, earning himself a sharp jab in the side from Kakashi’s elbow. “Owww! Rival!”

“No need to be rude about it,” he grumbled, though he knew he had very little ground to stand on when it came to scolding Gai for his arrogance. Both of them had an arrogant streak that could come out at any time, and it usually shawn brightest in their competitions. “But fine, all fighting styles allowed.”

“And no cheating!”

Kakashi rolled his eyes. “Says the guy who knocked a plate off of the table during our last eatting competition,” he fired back. “Besides, there’s no such thing as cheating in a fight.”

“Kakashi…”

“I’m being serious,” he insisted, unable to stop himself from laughing when Gai smacked him across the back of his shoulder. “We’re shinobi, Gai. Shinobi fight to survive, and sometimes that means playing a little dirty.”

“Playing dirty and trying to blind me are two different things,” Gai insisted. “And if you’re going to use the hounds at least tell them not to bite too hard. It’s embarrassing explaining all those bite marks to the doctor’s when I go to get them healed.”

Stopping in his tracks, Kakashi turned to face his rival. “Really?” he asked. “Their bite marks are embarrassing?”

“Well, ya,” Gai huffed. “I don’t like having to explain that my eternal rival used his hounds to prevent me from attacking.”

“Their bite marks are embarrassing?” Kakashi repeated, leaning in a bit closer and staring straight into Gai’s eyes. “No other bite marks?”

As soon as the words left his mouth Gai began to sweat. His eyes darted around the area, searching for an escape. “I- well,”

“Ah, well,” leaning back, Kakashi sighed. “I’ll just not summon them this round.”

“R-really?”

“Of course not,” he confirmed, a smile creeping onto his face and reaching up into his eyes. “I’ll leave enough bite marks for them to take care of. Those arn’t nearly as embarrassing at the hounds bite marks, right?”

For a second time in just a few minutes Kakashi could swear he could spot some steam rising from Gai’s head, and with a satisfied hum he turned back down the path and continued walking as if nothing had happened.

“K-Kakashi?” Gai’s voice cracked when he called after him. “Kakashi!”

Ignoring his rival’s calls, Kakashi lifted the hand holding his new book and admired the cover. It was a beautiful piece of work. One worthy of all of the praise he could muster. 

It seemed only fair that he provide that praise to Gai, who was the only reason he had a copy of the book, or that his favorite fable had been included in it. If that praise happened to leave Gai with a few questionable marks afterward, so be it.

Perhaps one day Kakashi would try to learn some medical Ninjitsu so he could care for those wounds himself.

Until then, however, Gai would simply have to deal with the embarrassing reality of dating a man who loved to leave love bites all over his partners gorgeous body.

[liyrical]

finding out yuuji’s birthday falls on the japanese spring equinox (shunbun no hi) vs megumi’s birthday falling on the winter solstice (toji. literally its called toji!!!!) is doing evil and terrible things to my brain

[talesofedo]

Edo period egoyomi (picture calendar) for Kyowa 2 (1802) picturing the monthly and seasonal needs for a small mountain village.

...

More Information on Japanese Calendars and Timekeeping

See the previous post here.

...

Japanese Years

Today, most of the world uses the Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582, to track years of the common era. That calendar's era is based on years since the perceived birth of Jesus: 2023 CE (current era) or AD (anno domini, year of the lord) 2023.

Edo period Japan obviously did not use the Gregorian calendar as its own calendar-keeping was influenced by China, not the west. In fact, Japan did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1873 but continues to use era names into the present day.

Japan's system of era names (nengo) originates from China and was permanently adopted in 701 under Emperor Monmu. It has been continuously in use since.

Until the end of the Edo period, era names were decided by court officials and could change frequently. A new era name was usually proclaimed after the ascension of a new emperor, but could also be changed due to some auspicious event or even due to natural disasters.

Since the adoption of era names, most have been in use for fewer than 10 years, sometimes for as short a period as 2 years, and only a handful have been used for periods of more than 30 years.

This website is extremely helpful in converting Gregorian years into Japanese eras, just enter the year!

...

Japanese Months

During the Edo period, the Japanese year was broken down into 12 lunar months of either 29 days (small months) or 30 days (large months) each.

Additionally, a special intercalary month (uru-zuki) had to be added every few years to keep the calendar in sync with the actual change of seasons.

In the modern Japanese calendar, the months are numbered rather than named: ichi-gatsu (first month, January), ni-gatsu (second month, February), and so on, but during the Edo period, monthly names, which date back to the Heian era, were in common use.

(Today, you might still find these old monthly names in poetry.)

Here they are with their western calendar equivalent:

January - mutsuki 睦月 February - kisaragi 如月 March -yayoi 弥生 April - uzuki 卯月 May - satsuki 皐月 June - minazuki 水無月 July - fumizuki 文月 August - hazuki 葉月 September - nagatsuki 長月 October - kannazuki 神無月 November - shimotsuki 霜月 December - shiwasu 師走

...

Japanese Weeks

The western concept of breaking individual months down into 7-day weeks did not exist in Edo period Japan. However, there is a rough equivalent that corresponds to the general concept of weeks: nijushi-sekki, 24 seasonal divisions that break the year down into "weeks" of 15 days each.

They are:

Shokan (small chill) – around January 6 Daikan (big chill) – around January 20 Risshun (start of spring) – around February 4 Usui (rain water) – around February 18 Keichitsu (going-out of worms) – around March 6 Shunbun (spring equinox) – around March 21 Seimei (clear and bright) – 15 days after the spring equinox Koku-u (rain for harvests) – around April 21 Rikka (start of summer) – around May 6 Shoman (half bloom) – around May 21 Boshu (seeds of cereals) – around June 5 Geshi (reaching summer) – summer solstice – around June 21 Shohsho (small heat) – around July 7 Taisho (big heat) – hottest time of the year – around July 23 Risshu (start of autumn) – around August 8 Shosho (keeping out of the heat) – around August 23 Hakuro (white dew) – around September 7 Shubun (the autumnal equinox) – around September 23 Kanro (cold dew) – around October 8 Soko (frosting) – around October 23 Ritto (start of winter) – around November 8 Shosetsu (small snow) – around November 23 Taisetsu (big snow) – around December 8 Toji (reaching winter) – around December 22

More in-depth information about these, along with explanations of why they're called what they're called, can be found here.

...

Japanese Days

Individual named days, such as Monday and Tuesday, as we know them on the western calendar, also did not exist in Edo period Japan.

You wouldn't say "We meet on Wednesday." Instead, you would have used the date, "We meet on the fifteenth day," or perhaps even the phase of the moon, "We meet on the new moon."

Individual Japanese days are also not broken down into 24 equal hours of 60 minutes each.

Instead, people in the Edo period split their days into 12 hours (toki): 6 daytime hours, which were counted from sunrise to sunset, and 6 night-time hours, which were counted from sunset to sunrise.

Naturally, the length of these hours varied not only by time of year (winter daytime hours being obviously shorter than winter nighttime hours) but also by geographical location.

Daytime hours were broken down as follows:

Hour of the Rabbit (begins at sunrise) Hour of the Dragon Hour of the Snake Hour of the Horse (noon) Hour of the Goat Hour of the Monkey

Nighttime hours were broken down as follows:

Hour of the Rooster (begins at sunset) Hour of the Dog Hour of the Pig Hour of the Rat (midnight) Hour of the Ox Hour of the Tiger

From the Seiko Museum.

[tempenensis]

Hi Lele (and Lele's followers)! :D

Hmm I'm confident enough to assume that you already knew about this, but I feel like sharing (again) so yea!

As you can see, I was thinking of Okkotsu while scrolling my twitter timeline until I stumbled upon this thread that says most of the characters' birthdates are based on the season in Japan/(old(?)) Japanese calendar.

＊I believe it's called 24 divisions of the solar year (二十四節気/nijūshisekki) and the supplementary solar terms (雑節/zassetsu). (OvO)

The OP also writes the explanation on their website (I'll drop the link below!) about the theory they have, and what caught my interest the most was Yuuji and Todo because apparently they were born during Spring/Vernal Equinox (shunbun/春分) for Yuuji (March 20th) and Autumnal Equinox (shuubun/秋分) for Todo (September 23rd)—— in which on both dates, the length of day and night are equal!

The OP explains in their site that it symbolizes their brotherhood. Interesting, innit? <:D

Also, it appears that those whose birthday isn't based on either two of them (the systems) like Toji and Nanami, won't be "living long"..... something like that......... ;_;)

Maybe, maybe, if you want more clear explanation you can read them directly from the OP, and here's the source(s) I got them from:

https://kylescouter.com/2021/05/11/birthdays/

https://twitter.com/kylescouter/status/1426139664033873935?t=0Nxa5nLlGZOwl6OKYqkK7Q&s=19

// Have a nice day/night y'all! Nerdy anonnie out, バイバイ！！！

Thanks for sharing, anon! This will be something to think about, for sure

[naradivision]

“One who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger.” —Japanese proverb

Introduction 🍡

Asahi Tomoharu (朋春 旭) is the second member of the Nara Division rap battle team, Miraitabi. He is also known and widely adored by his moniker “SWEET-T” in rap battles. Working as a professional wagashi maker at his grandparents’ Japanese confectionery shop ‘Harumatsuya’ in Nara, everyday he pours his heart and soul into making his delicacies, wishing them can bring a smile to someone’s face. The reasons he joined the D.R.B. are to assist his friend and to find his own “courage”.

the art belongs to picrew created by @iwose (Retouching and accessories e.g. Momiji clip, Tachimaki, also background with cherry blossoms are added to the origin)

Asahi is a youthful young man blessed with fluffy short salmon-pink hair and a sweet cherubic-like face which seems to never cease showing a big bright smile. His relatively large and round eyes are tea green, gleaming with jovial pink tints. From outside, he may appear to have a slender build; but in truth, he has a quite lean and muscular physique hidden underneath his usual working attire, which is an indigo samue adorned with some pink cherry blossom patterns. He also keeps a black server apron tied around his waist. His team’s token, the momiji leaf shaped clip made of bronze, is clutched at the left lapel of his clothes. He wears a pair of zōri and often has a white-and-green twisted hachimaki put over his fluffy head. Sometimes he uses a tasuki to hold up the sleeves for convenience and functionality.

Etymology

Asahi means “morning sun” (旭)

Tomoharu is written “friend” (朋) and “spring” (春)

Aliases

Sweetie / Asachin - His grandparents

Hi-chan - Yuuya

“Sunshine”

“Peter Pan”

“Spring” (Figuratively)

— Biographical Info —

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Ethnicity: Japanese

Hair Color: Light Salmon Pink

Eye Color: Tea Green/ Cherry blossom pink

Height: 175 cm (5’9”)

Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs)

Bloodtype: O

Birthday: March 21 (Vernal equinox day “Shunbun no Hi”)

Zodiac: Aries ♈️

Piercings: N/A

Markings: N/A

Headcanon Voiceclaim: めいちゃん - Meychan (Singing)

Family:

Father

Mother

Grandfather

Grandmother

— D.R.B. Info —

MC Name: SWEET-T

Occupation: Wagashi artist

Color Theme: #FFB7C5 (Cherry Blossom Pink)

Division: Nara

Team: Miraitabi

Position: 2nd member

Hypnosis Microphone

Asahi’s Microphone is a karaoke microphone that takes after a bamboo eggwhisk with its windscreen trapped inside of the wire loops. There is a short twisted straw rope coming out from where the microphone’s cord would be. The rope itself is decorated with three colored beads and has its end tied into a flower knot (hanamusubi). The beads are arranged in order: pink, white, and green, resembling the hanami dango.

His Speakers take the form of a giant kadomatsu. There is a speaker embedded in each of three majestic bamboo stalks cut in slant pointing upwards to the sky. The base is wrapped up by a straw mat and rope with those decorations composed of a paper fan showing his team’s logo, pine boughs, and flower-shaped wagashi with round speakers planted inside. Aside from the pine boughs, there are also cherry blossom branches spreading out from the left and the right side of kadomatsu, dropping their fluttering pink petals in the air.

His rap ability, Banzai!, allows him to strengthen his allies’ morale and stamina to the highest, but there is also another practical fact overlooked by most competitors; due to the high boost itself, his ability is proven to be capable of stabilizing all defected status happening to his team. Although doing so would gradually consume some of his stamina as its expenses, his ability is counted to be the team’s greatest backup because it will either last for the rest of the battle or until he is terminated from the round. The ability’s appearance takes the form of a gentle breeze carrying some sparkling cherry blossoms showering around the area.

His usual go are the café-themed upbeat melodies with cutesy poppy vibes and sometimes even with some jazzy tones. What he usually raps about are mostly wrapping around his profession as the wagashi maker. He often makes the references to these wonderful confectioneries, the techniques on how to make them, the folklore and fairy tales, and not to forget the seasonal aesthetics! Especially the “spring” which is his favorite season and is the namesake of his beloved store. Moreover, he tends to rap about overcoming oneself while also encouraging the audience to pursue their own dreams no matter how ridiculous it sounds to be.

— Personality —

As his name indicates, Asahi’s personality is just like the sunshine in the morning: Lively, cheerful, and always brimming with contagious chaotic positive energy to share with everyone else, there is seldom an occasion to see him without an iconic smile on his face. Seen to carry on high spirits in most situations, to the point it can scare off some kinds of people, he is a compassionate individual who loves to see others being well and happy. And to tell the truth, he wasn’t even born with this lighthearted optimism in the first place. All of his sudden change up to these days is thanks to Yuuya back then.

He also bears strong affection for arts, fairy tales, and cute things. Since he was younger, he has started taking up some hobbies to express his love for them like collecting cute merchandise, learning to make cute needlework or handicraft, etc. It can be said that he is the type to be calm and concentrated only when he has something to work on his hands. Aside from his bashful aspect in the past, he often got mocked by peers just because he had hobbies perceived to be ‘too effeminate’ for a boy. After experiencing those disheartened episodes toppled by a great deal of stress when his grandpa was sent to the hospital, all those said have bit by bit lowered his confidence in himself.

Although appearing to be clueless or a little timid sometimes, he is very enthusiastic once talking about his interests. Possessing the mind of an artist, he does have a vivid imagination and usually loves to explore new ideas, which results in an unbounded curiosity for every little thing possible. And because of his somewhat childlike persona, he quickly gains favor from lots of people. Nevertheless, for a friendly reminder to anyone who thinks he is just a small fry; keep in mind that he is someone who has climbed up to success by making progress on sheer marketing skills, so it had better not to underestimate that seeming-to-be innocent smile of his. Apparently, he too, has a crude and snarky side when someone offends the things he values.

— Fun Facts —

Handedness: Right

Favorite Food: Nabemono, Wagashi that goes well with green tea

Least Favorite Food: Junk foods

Likes: Hot green tea, Wagashi, His friends and family, Cute things, Handicrafts, Arts, Myths and Folktales, Love stories, Karaoke, Early morning, Cherry blossoms, Doing house chores, Cooking, etc.

Dislikes: Unhealthy diets, People who look down on others’ dream, People who insult wagashi or traditional things, Bullies, Mean criticism

— Background —

*To be continued*

Trivia

As his surname stands for “spring” season, he was born in the range of Japanese’s holiday called “Shunbun no Hi (春分の日)” which celebrates the Spring (Vernal) Equinox. It is one of the two points during the year where the daylight and night hours are of equal length, and is the official arrival of spring in Japan.

His wagashi shop names “Harumatsuya (春待つや)”

He is a big eater and also a good cook (mostly makes traditional dishes though). He is the one who proposed the idea of dining together at Saigo’s place so that he can take care of the other two’s bad eating habits.

Despite having heads empty about the real romance, no one can beat him at singing cutesy lovey-dovey songs at karaoke. The ridiculous fact is he only knows about it from fairy tales, shoujo manga, and his pure imagination…

He is easily surprised but unexpectedly hard to get scared. However, he loves to make some noise or pretend to be scared solely ‘for fun’. When surprised, he screams first and then asks a dumbfounded “What???” later just like the kid. He is also told to have a feminine shriek and a unique high-pitched laughter.

In terms of physical strength, he is surprisingly the strongest out of the group. He guesses that maybe his strength comes from pounding mochi every day.

In contrast to Rio’s food, sometimes people find Asahi’s wagashi look too adorable to take a bite. It has lately got popular among teenagers as ‘the test of courage’.

He is unaware of the fact that he is the grandson of Nara’s once most feared gangster.

[somediyprojects]

Holiday motifs designed by Cheryl McKinnon of Tiny Modernist, featured in issue #331/April 2023 of The World of Cross Stitching magazine.

Mark spring festivals worldwide with Cheryl McKinnon's (tinymodernist) collection of 31 inspirational designs. Use the quick and easy motifs to send joyful wishes to friends and family at home and abroad. Charts include Holi, Eid, Passover, Baba Marta, Hanami, Nowruz and more! 

Find this chart collection in issue 331, out in UK stores now, or download the digital edition via our app. Here's a full list of the events covered: 1. Songkran 2. Spring equinox at Stonehenge 3. Baba Marta Day 4. Cinco de Mayo 5. Teotihuacan Spring equinox 6. Nowruz (Persian New Year) 7. Holi 8. Beltane, Ireland 9. Marzanna – Slavic goddess 10. Eid al Fitr 11. St Patrick’s Day - motif 12. Ramadan 13. Angkor Wat spring equinox 14. Carnaval de Cadiz 15. St Patrick’s Day - border 16. Passover 17. Hanami (Cherry Blossom Festival) - border 18. Easter - bookmark 19. Bengali New Year 20. Easter - motif 21. Keukenhof (spring tulips) 22. Las Fallas de Valencia, Spain 23. International women’s day 24. Buddha Purnima 25. Backstitch alphabet 26. Backstitch alphabet 27. Backstitc numbers 28. Mother’s day 29. Walpurgis night (witches night) 30. Semana Santa 31. Shunbun No hi 

[Image ID: six cross stitch motifs celebrating spring occasions around the world including Baba Marta, Shunbun no hi, Holi, St Patrick's Day, Eid and Songkran.]

[emilysdiaryofficial]

It's not easy, Catato❤️ But we are trying

[lindenway]

Grand Seiko Shunbun SBGA 413 . . . . . #watch #watchporn #watchoftheday #watch pork #wristshot #calibre61 #auswatchforum #awbss #watchfam #horology #grandseiko #gswednesday #dailywatch #sbga413 #watchesofinstagram #grandeikoownersclub #grandseikoaustralia https://www.instagram.com/p/Ceggo5lrtVN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sakuraminka]

Himekuri・Spring 4/2

Today’s Daily Calendar Page今日の日めくり「春4月2日」 Silhouette of the Day今日のシルエット Today’s silhouette is of a Tsubame (Swallow) 「燕（つばめ）」migrating north in order to nest. 今日のシルエットは、「燕（つばめ）」が巣を作るために北に渡る姿です。 Musingsさりげない考え Yet another sign that it is truly springtime in Japan is when the Tsubame (Swallows) 「燕（つばめ）」return, as they are a migratory bird that spends its summers visiting the archipelago. It is…

[peterpijls1965]

Begin van de lente 春分の日 (Shunbun no hi)

De keizer was al jarig. Tenno heiko banzai.

[sudachirecipes]

March 20th marks “Shunbun no Hi” or the Spring Equinox. It’s a Japanese tradition to eat Botamochi (also known as “ohagi”) on this day, a simple rice ball made with sweet mochi rice wrapped with red bean paste or coated with roasted soybean flour.

Learn all about botamochi's history and culture and how to make this delicious sweet at home!