2025.05.21
Ten Topic : Today is “Shōman” 🌱 Even along the urban train tracks, the seasons arrive just the same.
Today is Shōman (小満), a seasonal term meaning “a little full.” It marks the time of year when the life that sprouted in spring begins to grow vigorously, and nature gradually fills out with vitality. 🌾
At first glance, it may seem hard to feel the changing seasons in a big city. But if you ride the trains in Tokyo, you’ll start to notice little signs of Shōman here and there. For example, the fresh green leaves of roadside trees seen from the Chūō Line’s elevated tracks, the leafy path along the Inokashira Line, the parks near the Tōkyū Lines, or the small urban farms the Arakawa Line passes through in the old neighborhoods.
Flowers blooming by the tracks, hydrangea buds peeking out from gardens, and swallows darting beneath station rooftops—yes, even in the city, the seasons are quietly making their passage. 🚃🌿
Shōman literally means “a little full.” It might be the time when not only nature, but also our hearts, begin to regain a bit of ease and spaciousness.
On your morning commute, take a moment to look out the window. Even amid the hustle and bustle, traces of the season gently reveal themselves.
It might be the same train route as always, but today’s view could feel just a little more special. ✨
