What is Sinryoku (新緑)?
These years, people praise and focus on Aomomiji. Aomomiji is “Autumn leaves in green.” In spring, their green leaves come out and they turn red.
I assume the season of Aomomiji starts in April and ends August. I said “assume” because the word was invented for tourists about a decade ago and the definition of it varies from person to person. At least, as a Japanese goat, I had never heard of the word.
On the other hand, there is a word we have been familiar with: Shin Ryoku.
Shin Ryoku(新緑) means “new green(leaves).” The leaves of deciduous trees start growing around early April. They are in light green and keep the color by mid-May.
This period is in the early summer of the Japanese lunar calendar and Shin Ryoku is one of Kigos. Kigo (季語) is a world that tells us a season in Japanese poetry.
In Shin Ryoku seeson, we find every single life comes alive anew. I’m sure no Japanese people deny this feeling and that is one of the reasons we love Sakura that implies the up-coming Shinryoku season.
There is another word describes the seasn: Midori Sassu (緑さす).
Midori Sasu means this. The sun beam through the leaves make them refreshing in bright green. It casts warm Komorebi on the ground.
Places to visit
Shisendo temple is one of the most underrated places. We can admire Shinryoku in tranquility.
Rurikoin is the best place to visit. I prefer spring though it is famous for autumn leaves.
In some places, night illumination is available.
I hope you can enjoy Shin Ryoku and Midori Sasu virtually. 合掌
