At the Longest Night, Light Returns
These days, when I wake up, it is still dark outside. The sun sets early, and evening arrives quickly. It reminds me that the winter solstice is approaching, a time that, for me, is always accompanied by the fresh aroma of yuzu.
Yuzu, resting on a leaf-shaped plate by ceramic artist Kifumi Kawamura.
This year, December 22 marks the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere. From this day onward, the sun slowly begins to return. Astronomically, this occurs because the Earth’s axis is tilted at approximately 23.4 degrees. For this reason, the winter solstice (冬至)has long been honored through cultural and spiritual traditions around the world.
In Japan, the winter solstice is considered a meaningful turning point within the traditional 24 solar terms. Often described as the moment when darkness reaches its peak and light begins to return(一陽来復), it symbolizes rebirth, hope, and the quiet beginning of a new cycle.
One tradition I personally associate most strongly with this day is the yuzu bath. Taking a yuzu bath on the winter solstice is said to help support good health through the winter. As a child, I would lift the lid of our bathtub and immediately know it was the winter solstice — a bright yellow yuzu floating in the hot water, releasing its gentle citrus scent. Even now, just imagining it, I can almost smell that fresh aroma. I remember my mother preparing yuzu baths for our family every year, wishing for our health. Simply recalling this memory still relaxes me and warms my heart.
Winter yuzu, ripening quietly.
Japanese culture is deeply rooted in an awareness of the seasons. Enjoying seasonal change is not only about beauty, but about staying connected to nature and aligning ourselves with the rhythm of the Earth. Just as the year moves through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, we too have our own inner cycles. Seasonal rituals gently remind us to listen to them.
This year, the winter solstice in New York will occur on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 10:03 a.m. In Japan, it will arrive at 12:03 a.m. on Sunday, December 22, almost at midnight — the moment when yin reaches its fullest and begins to turn toward yang. It is said to be extremely rare for the solstice to occur so close to midnight.
The future of the world often feels uncertain, and many people carry a quiet sense of anxiety. Yet Japan lies in the East, where the sun rises. Perhaps it is only symbolic, but I cannot help feeling that this midnight represents the deepest darkness — and that from this moment, we begin to move quietly toward dawn and a brighter future. I truly hope so.
A quiet sunrise above the clouds — light returning, gently and without haste.
Ki-Chu means “everything is within.” A gentle reminder that stillness, clarity, and light are not something we seek outside ourselves, but something we quietly rediscover within. Thank you, from my heart, for reading and for your continued support of Ki-Chu New York throughout this year.
May the coming year unfold with peace, warmth, and hope for us all.
