There’s no doubt that summer is getting longer. The Japanese, who have long prided themselves on having four distinct 季節 (kisetsu, seasons), have been asking themselves of late, 四季がなくなり「二季」になっていくのだろうか？ (Shiki ga nakunari “niki” ni natte-iku no darō ka?, Will the four seasons disappear and just become “two seasons”?)
One thing that shouldn't change, though, is 秋分の日 (shūbun no hi, Autumnal Equinox Day), which this year takes place on Sept. 23. It marks the point at which 太陽 (taiyō, the sun) is directly over 赤道 (sekidō, the equator).
秋分の日は昼と夜の長さがほぼ同じになる日です (Shūbun no hi wa hiru to yoru no nagasa ga hobo onaji ni naru hi desu, Autumnal Equinox Day is the day where day and night are almost equal). From that day forward, 夜が少しずつ長くなっていきます (yoru ga sukoshizutsu nagaku natte-ikimasu, the nights get longer little by little).
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