Tsukimi － Feel autumn breezes by viewing the glory of the full moon

Tsukimi is a time-honored event of the Japanese autumn, with people viewing the glory of the full moon shining in the heavens on an autumnal night. Japanese sensitivity is deeply moved by the many, subtle faces of nature, as you see countless tanka and haiku pieces, where “ka cho fou getsu” (flowers, birds, winds, the moon) are the most cherished motifs. Japan’s aesthetics is deeply rooted in seasonal changes, as an old saying goes, “Flowers of spring, the moon of autumn.”
Tsukimi favors the full moon on the night of August 15th of the old Japanese lunar calendar, which is about a month behind the current solar calendar. The full moon on this particular night has traditionally been called “meigetsu” (the moon of wonder). This particular night bears the name dedicated to it, “jugoya” (the night of the 15th) when moon viewing became commonplace. Indeed, the full moon shines all the more gracefully in the clear night sky of autumn swept by the pleasant breezes of the season as well as by eating the round dumplings made after the round of the full moon.

Updated: 24 July, 2017