Cicadas in Japan: The Sound of Summer and the Species Behind It

The loud chorus of cicadas, called semi in Japanese, is a seasonal signature, and learning the main species turns a wall of noise into a summer calendar.

Published October 20, 2026 at 10:55 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Cicadas, called semi in Japanese, are insects whose males sing loudly in summer by vibrating drum-like membranes on the abdomen. Japan has some 30 species according to a national culture guide, and the best known include aburazemi, minminzemi, niiniizemi, higurashi and tsukutsukuboshi. Different species are heard at different times of the season and day, so the chorus changes from the rainy season into late summer.

What cicadas are and why they sing

Cicadas are a family of about 3,000 sound-producing insects worldwide. Males make their loud calls with tymbals, a pair of drum-like membranes at the base of the abdomen. Muscles buckle the membranes, which snap back to produce rapid clicks that blend into a continuous sound, and in many species the hollow abdomen works like a resonating chamber to amplify it. Only the males sing, and the song is mainly a signal to attract females.

In Japan, the call of the semi is so closely tied to summer that film and anime makers often use it as a shortcut to show the height of the season. Each species has its own call. That diversity is what gives Japanese summers their layered, ever-changing soundtrack.

The common species and their calls

The aburazemi (oil cicada) is among the best known. Its crackling cry, written as "jiri jiri," is compared to oil sizzling in a pan, which gives the species its name. It is one of the larger and more familiar local species. The minminzemi has a long, droning call that sounds like "min min," familiar from films and anime, and the insect has green and black coloring.

The niiniizemi is a smaller species whose short buzzing call is written "nii nii," and it blends into tree bark, so it is hard to spot. The kumazemi, often called the "bear cicada" (kuma means bear), is described as more common in western Japan. The higurashi has a plaintive call, often written "kana kana," and the tsukutsukuboshi is known for a complex song often described as spelling out its name.

Timing through the season

The chorus changes as summer moves on. In many areas, the niiniizemi is among the first cicadas heard, often on clear days around the rainy season, and the aburazemi and minminzemi are heard when the summer heat peaks. The higurashi is heard in the cooler hours of early morning and evening, and the tsukutsukuboshi sounds toward the end of summer, signaling that the season is closing.

These are general patterns, not strict rules, because timing varies with region and weather. Some types can be heard into October. Time of day matters as well, since certain species sing mostly in the heat of the day while others favor the cooler hours around dawn and dusk. Experienced listeners sometimes use the cicada calendar as an informal seasonal clock. A change from the buzz of midsummer to the evening call of the higurashi or the lilting tsukutsukuboshi is a common way to notice that the days are shifting toward autumn.

From underground to treetop

A cicada spends most of its life as a nymph underground. After mating, the female cuts slits in twig bark and lays eggs. When they hatch, the nymphs drop to the ground and burrow in, where they feed on sap from roots. Most cicada species spend a few years underground as nymphs, commonly cited as two to five years, though some take much longer, and the exact span depends on the species.

When ready, the nymph climbs a tree or plant, splits its skin and emerges as an adult, leaving the empty shell behind. Adults live only a short time above ground, typically a few weeks and in general less than two months, which is one reason cicada song is linked with fleeting summer. Children often enjoy finding the shed shells on trunks and fences during the summer school break.

Cicadas in poetry and literature

Semi is a seasonal word for summer in haiku, so a poem that mentions a cicada signals the season immediately. The most famous example is a haiku by Matsuo Basho, composed at the mountain temple of Yamadera in Yamagata during his travels in 1689. In English renderings, it speaks of the stillness of the place, with the cries of the cicadas seeming to soak into the rocks. In 1996, the sound of cicadas at the temple was named one of Japan's 100 Soundscapes. A monument known as the Semizuka, or Cicada Mound, is associated with the poem.

In The Tale of Genji, the hero compares a woman who slips away leaving her robe behind to a cicada shedding its shell. This imagery of shed shells and brief life gives cicadas a gentle poignancy in classical Japanese literature. Modern artists and filmmakers continue to use the sound and the empty shell to suggest summer and memory. Because semi is a recognized seasonal keyword, a single word in a short poem can bring the heat, the trees and the long light of a summer day to mind for a Japanese reader.

Cicadas in summer life today

For many people in Japan, cicadas belong to the memory of school summer holidays. Children collect shed shells, compare species and try to catch adults out of curiosity about the differences, and the sound often plays in the background of anime and film scenes set in summer. Because the calls are so tied to the season, a recording of cicadas is a quick way to evoke Japanese summer on screen.

Cicadas are also a popular subject for nature walks and school projects, since species, shells and songs are all easy to compare. Many people consider summer to have truly begun when the first cicada songs are heard.

Telling species apart and listening tips

Sound is the easiest way to tell species apart, although it takes practice. Listen for the rhythm and pitch: a crackling sizzle suggests the aburazemi, a long droning "min min" suggests the minminzemi, and a rapid, ringing call in the cool of early morning or evening points to the higurashi. Size and color help too. The aburazemi is large and brown, the minminzemi has green and black coloring, and the kumazemi is also a large species.

Parks, shrines and tree-lined streets are good places to listen, and many people find early morning and dusk the most pleasant. Cicadas are harmless to people, so you can look at them from a respectful distance. Handle shells gently, and leave insects where you find them. This guide shares general information on a cultural and natural subject, not professional advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are cicadas so loud in Japan in summer?

Male cicadas call to attract females, using drum-like tymbals on the abdomen. The hollow abdomen amplifies the sound. When many males sing in the same trees, the chorus becomes very loud. Different species are heard at different times, so the volume changes through the season.

Which cicada species are common in Japan?

Common species include the aburazemi, minminzemi, niiniizemi, kumazemi, higurashi and tsukutsukuboshi. Each has a distinct call. The kumazemi is described as more common in western Japan, and the higurashi is known for its evening song.

When is cicada season in Japan?

Cicadas are most active in summer, with the first species often heard in the rainy season in early summer and the heat-peak species in July and August. The tsukutsukuboshi and higurashi mark late summer, and some species can be heard into October. Timing varies by region and year, so a listening walk in your own area is the best guide.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Japanese Culture and Customs is available on Amazon.

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