Spring Stirs By

When I see the Kanji character "Keichitsu" <see footnote>, awakening of insects, I feel a certain itch. It's the season when hibernating insects start to crawl out of the soil as it gets warmer. Inviting by the soft sunshine, nature becomes lively and itchy.

Around the same time, my nose also started to feel itchy. In my case, it's hay fever. When I wake up in the morning and start sneezing repeatedly, I reach for a tissue, thinking that hay fever season has really arrived. This year's pollen amount is 1.5 times that of the usual amount, and it seems that the dispersion has started early, so I'm worried about what the future holds.

Even so, I am glad that spring has arrived. There are no frogs or snakes around the house, but when ants and pillbugs that weren't around during the cold season appear, I want to say welcome home. Ladybugs, bees, and cabbage butterflies are also welcome back. It may seem normal, but it's soothing to see creatures moving around in front of the entrance and in the small garden.

However, I am having trouble with cabbage white butterflies. They lay eggs on the broccoli and arugula planted in a planter in the garden. The leaves are eaten by caterpillar with holes. I leave it as is, thinking it's safe for them since it's pesticide-free. There is a small problem with my morning salad. I have treated them to so kind that I hope they will come back and show me their cute dance when they emerge.

I used to live in an apartment near Shibuya Station in Tokyo. One time, I found a green caterpillar on the Japanese pepper tree at the balcony. Five or six plump caterpillars were eating the thorny leaves. They were munching away, so much so that I could hear them munching. It was a small potted plant I bought with the intention of adding new Japanese pepper leaves with my spring bamboo shoot dishes. If this continued, the small Japanese pepper tree would be completely bald.

So, what should I do? I gave up the bamboo shoot dishes and bought another Japanese pepper plant and put it next to it. This will probably be enough. I covered the caterpillars with netting to prevent them from being eaten by birds, and made a place for them to turn into pupae nearby. It was all I could do.

And I was able to see the moment it hatched.

Early in the morning, a chrysalis moved softly. When its head peeked out of the brown shell, its antennae hopped out, and its wings slowly appeared. Even after it had taken off the chrysalis, its wings remained deflated. It opened and closed its wings as if breathing little by little, gradually spreading out and revealing a vivid pattern. It was a beautiful swallowtail butterfly, but the color of its pattern was still pale. It probably didn't move for about 30 minutes, then it suddenly flew off and flapped its wings from the balcony into the Tokyo city sky.

I witnessed a butterfly emerge for the first time. Thank you. I still remember how impressed I was, but after living in Kamakura, rich in nature for 15 years, I can't be overprotective. I've come to see countless lives being born and disappearing up close, and I've come to the realization that it's best to leave it to nature.

There is a saying that "thunder awakens insects". It is said that the first thunder after the beginning of spring lures out the insects that have been hibernating. Perhaps the sound and vibrations frighten them and make them want to come out quickly. The heavens give us a proper signal at the beginning of spring.

Gardening work called "Komo-hazushi" is also done around the time of the awakening of insects. Before winter comes, straw mats are wrapped around the trunks of pine trees to lure out pests, and in spring, the mats are removed and burned to exterminate them. This is a seasonal tradition that dates back to the Edo period. In some areas, it is an annual event.

Another indispensable spring event is the "Omizutori" ceremony held at Todaiji Temple in Nara, an ancient capital alongside Kamakura.

Torches illuminating Nigatsudo Hall at Todaiji Temple in Nara. A majestic flame.

"Omizutori" is a traditional event loved by the people of Nara that heralds the arrival of spring. It is held from March 1st to 14th and is a traditional event in which people confess their sins to Buddha and pray for a good harvest. It is nice to feel the signs of spring in the changing nature, but it is also nice to know the arrival of spring through an event that has been held for over 1200 years.

A few years ago, I went to see the "Omizutori" ceremony. In the evening, the area under the stage of Nigatsudo Hall was filled with worshippers. I joined them and waited for it to get dark.

The highlight of the "Omizutori" ceremony was the torch. In the darkness, a huge, burning torch sticks out from the parapet of Nigatsudo. Then, it suddenly started spinning at high speed. It ran through the corridor, scattering sparks all over the place. The flames were so intense that I was worried the hall would burn down, and a large amount of large sparks fell. It is said that if you are showered with these sparks, you will be blessed with good health and prosperity.

As I cheered and was showered with sparks among the crowd, I too felt as if I had been purified, thinking, "Now, spring has begun".

We have embraced the start of spring through the actions of nature and through various words and events. When spring arrives, it is as if we are being told that all living things should reach straight up towards the heavens. I also take off my coat and stretch. Spring has come to Kamakura.

*Footnote "Keichitsu"; The day on which insects dormant during the winter (are thought to) emerge from the earth (around March 6)

*Excerpt from the Tomoko Hoshino's latest essay