Tsukimi /Moon Viewing
月見

Tsukimi means viewing the moon to admire, especialy the moon of
the 15th of the eighth month by the lunar calendar, which is called Juugoya 十五夜/Chushu-no-Meigetsu 中秋の名月/Imo-Meigetsu芋名月, and
the 13th of the ninth month called Jusan'ya 十三夜/Nochi-no-tsuki 後の月.

We decorate moon-offerings such as Tsukimi-dango (moon viewing dumplings) the newly harvested
crops from the fields (especialy , bush clover and Japanese pampas grass (Susuki/芒)

In fall, the air is clear and the moon looks especialy beautiful and bright.
So we enjoy the fantastic moon.
It also a prayer for a rich harvest of crops.

We usually view the moon at home, but you can also join
the Kangetsu-kai (The moon Viewing Party) held in the shrines,temples or some events of your area.
See "Monthly Info" of September or October.
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Here is a very famous "Haiku" by Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶
Meigetsu o tottekurero to naku ko kana/名月を　取ってくれろと　泣く子哉
("Gimme that harvest moon!" /cries the crying/ child .....David G. Lanoue)

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Special name of the Moon by the lunar age

Old Calendar	1日	2日	3日	4日	5日	6日	7日	8日	9日	10日
Moon				4	5	6		8	9	10
Age of the moon	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Moon's name & traditional/l iterary name of lunar calendar	New Moon 新月/shingetsu 朔/saku, tsuitachi	二日月/futsukanotsuki 繊月/Sengetsu	Crescent Moon Waxing Crescent 三日月/mikazuki 眉月/mayuzuki 若月/Wakazuki 蛾眉/gabi	-	-	-	Half Moon First Quarter 上弦の月/jogen-no-tsuki 弓張月/yumiharizuki 弦月/Yumihari 七日月/Nanokazuki	-	-	十日夜/Tokan'ya

Old Calendar	11日	12日	13日	14日	15日	16日	17日	18日	19日	20日
Moon	11	12		14
Age of the Moon	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19
Moon's name & traditional/ literary name of lunar calendar	-	-	-	十四日月/Juyokkazuki 待宵/matsuyoi 小望月Komochizuki	The moon on August 15 of the lunar calendar is called 十五夜/Jugoya 望月/Mochizuki The full moon on August 15 is called Mochizuki (十五夜の満月）	十六夜/Izayoi Especially August 16 of the lunar calendar	立待月 /Tachimachizuki Stand-and wait moon Especially August 17 of the lunar calendar	Waxing Gibbous 居待月/Imachizuki Sit-and-wait moon Especially August 18 of the lunar calendar	寝待月/Nemachizuki 臥待月/Fushimachizuki Lie-down-and-wait moon Especially August 19 of the lunar calendar	更待月/Fukemachizuki 亥中の月Inaka-no-tsuki Wait-until- the-middle-of- the-nighy moon Especially August 20 of the lunar calendar

Old Calendar	21日	22日	23日	24日	25日	26日	27日	28日	29日	30日	1	-	-	13日	-
Moon	21	22		24	25	26	27	28	29		-	-	-
Age of the moon	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	-	-	-	12	-
traditional/literary expression	-	-	Half Moon Last Quaeter 下弦の月/Kagen-no-tsuki 二十三夜月/Nijusan'yazuki	-	-	Waning Crescent 二十六夜/Nijurokuya	-	-	-	Dark Moon 三十日月/Misokazuki 晦日月/Tsugomorizuki /Misokazuki	-	-	-	Gibbous Moon Waxing Gibbous 十三夜/Jusan'ya Especially Sept 13 of the lunar calendar	-

二夜の月/Futayonotsuki (The Moon on August 15 and September 13 by the lunar calendar.
有明の月/Ariake-no-tsuki (The moon which stll in the sky even the morning is coming)
雨夜の月/Amayo-no-tsuki (The moon in the rainy night →　Something invisible but still exist)

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Atsuta Shrine Moon Viewing Event
bush clover and Japanese pampas grass	offering of sake and tsukimi-dango	Koto music performance
lots of people join the party (free)	Bugaku performance	Bugaku performance

A poem that admire the harvest moon or "Chushu no meigetsu"
「月々に月観る月は多けれど　月観る月はこの月の月」(author unknown)
Tsukizuki ni tsuki miru tsuki wa ohkeredo
Tsuki miru tsuki wa kono tsuki no tsuki.

Koosho-ji (temple) Moon Viewing Event
Chant	The full moon　of August 15th of the lunar calendar which called "Chushu no meigetsu"	Clear flute sound and the moon make a good combination.
Satoimo soup service	Buddha is also shining on this day.	Satoimo is the necessities of Moon Viewing

Tokugawa-en (Japanese garden) Moon Viewing Event
One of the traditional ways of enjoying the moon is watching a reflection of the moon on the surface of water.
	Tsukimi-dango