初はつ紅葉もみじ

noun

first autumn maple leaves to turn red

A seasonal word (kigo) used in haiku and traditional poetry to refer to the earliest maple leaves that change color in autumn. In everyday language, it may be used to describe the first signs of autumn foliage.

• 庭にわの初はつ紅葉もみじが美うつくしい。

  The first red maple leaves in the garden are beautiful.

• 初はつ紅葉もみじを見みに山やまへ行いった。

  I went to the mountains to see the first autumn maple leaves.