first east wind of the year; first spring east wind
A seasonal word (kigo) for early spring, often used in haiku and traditional poetry. Refers to the first warm wind from the east that signals the arrival of spring.
The first east wind of spring blew, and the plum blossoms began to open.
In haiku, hatsukochi is often used as a spring seasonal word.
Compound of 初 (hatsu, 'first') and 東風 (kochi, 'east wind'). The reading こち for 東風 is an older, poetic term for east wind.