Otsukimi/ Moon Viewing 十五夜

Last night was “Otsukimi”- the moon viewing festival to pray for the fruitful harvest. What do you see in the moon?  We see a rabbit pounding rice cakes.

Moon Viewing usually falls on the first full moon after the Autumn Equinox (this year is 10/6), I marked the special day on my schedule book with confidence.  I will make “Tsukimi Dango” (Japanese dumplings) and ready to share with my dojo friends.

Then, in the morning I started to see many FB posts from friends in Japan getting ready for the special night: putting out decorations and preparing special foods.

It turns out this year’s festival falls on two days before the actual full moon due to the counting from the traditional Japanese calendar.  

No time to make the dumplings tonight.  

At least, I went ahead and got all the rice powders and sweet beans for tomorrow afternoon, and I took out the the Moon Viewing tapestry.

The moon was bright after the training.  I enjoyed it appear and disappear through the trees as I drove through the highway over the mountain.

昨夜は十五夜。

実は、今年の十五夜は秋分の日の次の満月の日だと高を括っていたら、今朝のFBからは中秋の名月に関するトピックがたくさん流れてきました。びっくりして調べてみると、今年は暦の関係で満月の二日前だったみたいです。手帳にも金曜日は「お月見」と書き、お団子も作る予定で準備万端のはずが、思いがけずまさかの段取り違い。

今晩は柔術のトレーニングでどう考えてもお団子なんぞ作っている時間はない。

とりあえず、お団子の材料を急遽揃え、お月見タペストリーを飾り、ドライブしながら山の合間に見え隠れする明るいお月様を見て楽しみました。お団子は放課後作ろうと思います。