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(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)
Oct. 15 is another otsukimi moon viewing night in Japan, called Jusan-ya (13th night). On Sep. 17, we celebrated Jugo-ya (15th night).
Tonight’s Jusan-ya moon is not a full moon, but it is considered the second most beautiful moon of the year, next to the Jugo-ya.
Older Japanese call it Futayo-no-tsuki (the second moon). Tsukimi is a long-held custom observed on the 15th night of tenth month (“jugo-ya”) and the 13th night of the ninth month (“jusan-ya”) of Japan’s old lunar calendar.
(Photo by Miyuki Takiguchi)
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(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)
Tsukimi, or moon-viewing, is one of many Japanese customs for celebrating the fall season. It’s a time to wish for a rich harvest and prosperity for the coming year, and is also one of the most favored settings for declarations of love.
On these days, the Japanese custom is to set out tsukimi dango dumplings and other round-shaped seasonal foods, along with sake and sprigs of “susuki” grass in sort of make-shift shrine. This display is arranged on a porch or in a corridor that has a view of the moon.
Other tsukimi foods include taro root, soybeans, chestnuts and persimmons.
There are a number of other customs that may be observed depending on where you are. As a kind of pre-harvest activity, for example, the sprigs of susuki grass represent rice and are sometimes hung from the eaves of a home to ward off illness after an evening of moon viewing.
One old custom, slightly reminiscent of trick-or-treat in the States, encourages children to go around the neighborhood “stealing” the dumplings and other offerings on the tables. The stolen offerings are considered to have been accepted by the moon, thus the more stolen, the better.
Take a moment tonight (Oct. 15) to enjoy the beautiful moon and try some of the tasty seasonal treats you’re sure to find at your local grocery store.
