The hauchiwa kaede is named for its resemblance to the magical hauchiwa or “feather fans” used by tengu.

Among famous varieties, the iroha momiji gets its name as it has seven lobes on each leaf, which is the same as the number of sounds in the opening of the famous iroha poem: irohanihoheto. In gardening, momiji refers to maples with deeper sinuses (spaces between their lobes), and kaede describes maples with shallower sinuses. (© Pixta)Īlthough the etymologies of the terms momiji and kaede differ, they are both general names for broad-leaved maple trees. Kaede is derived from an ancient word kaerude, meaning frog’s feet, from the shape of the leaves.Īutumn leaves in Karasawa Cirque, a valley formed by glacial erosion in Azumi, Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. The word momiji is derived from a verb momiizuru, referring to leaves changing color.

Deciduous trees and shrubs take on vibrant colors, poetically referred to as kinshū, or “autumn brocade.” Glorious patterns are woven on the mountains by broad-leaved trees such as different species of maple trees, known in Japanese as momiji or kaede. The mountains are clothed in their autumn garments. This article will look at events and natural phenomena in the period roughly from October 24 to November 7. The leaves of trees gradually change color, and we can sense autumn all around us.

Frosts begin to form in northern Japan and in mountainous regions. The solar term known as Sōkō (Frost Falls) begins around October 24 in the modern calendar.

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