Microseason: Insects Close the Door

AUTUMN

AUTUMN EQUINOX

INSECTS CLOSE THE DOOR

28 September - 2 October

Every year on the 1st October, Zuiki Festival is held at Kitanotenmangu Shrine in Kyoto. It’s a festival that has been celebrated annually for over 1000 years to express our great gratitude for our Autumn harvest.

Of the many cultivated and foraged flora of the season, there are two materials that are top of mind this microseason: shion (aster daisy) and susuki (Japanese silver grass).

Shion grow 1 - 2 meters in height. A stroll amongst the shion is a reminder that we are in Autumn. The pinkish-purple flowers with a yellow center have been used for medicinal purposes since the 700s.

Susuki is an essential architectural material used to create kayabuki roofing in many regions of Japan. Once sun-dried, susuki is incredibly well-suited to repel rain. And as the smoke from the irori suken hearths rise up into the roofing, fumigating and coating it over time, the susuki become even more durable and resilient.

Photo credit: Momoko Nakamura