Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. In the temperate north, we swing through this cycle year after year, perhaps taking note of the first sunny day after months of clouds, or appreciating the changing of the leaves. Seasons coincide with holidays, our conversations ruled with talk of “this time of year.”

Elsewhere, the nuances of a place take precedence in keeping time. The Japanese calendar follows three seasons, with 24 unique divisions known as sekki. Sekki comprise the overarching tone or feel of the time, about half a month, starting with risshun (“beginning of spring”) on February 4, then leading into usui (“rainwater”). March 6 marks keichitsu (“insects awaken”), and so on.