Traditions of Tsukimi: Japan's Moon Festival

Tsukimi or Otsukimi, is a traditional Japanese holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. The name literally translates to “moon-viewing” and falls on the night of the Harvest or mid-autumn moon. Celebrations in Japan date back to the Heian Period (794 to 1185) when courtiers would gather at night under the mid-autumn moon to recite poetry and play music.

Though few people gather on the night of the harvest moon to recite poetry and play music anymore, Otsukimi remains a popular time of celebration in modern-day Japan with a variety of traditions new and old to partake in.

The Myth of the Rabbit and the Moon

If you look carefully at a full moon, you might just notice a shape that looks like a rabbit pounding mochi with a mortar and pestle. In Japan there’s a folktale that tells of how this celestial rabbit came to be, and nowadays in celebration of Tsukimi you’re likely to find lots of rabbit shaped decorations and snacks in its honor.

This short Japanese children’s song is often sung during Otsukimi celebrations, and is something all children learn growing up, like a nursery rhyme. Here’s the original Japanese, and our translation:

うさぎうさぎ

なに見てはねる

十五夜お月さま見てはねる

Usagi, usagi

Nani mite haneru

Jyuugoya o-tsukisama mitewaneru

Rabbit, rabbit,

What are you looking at while you leap?

It looks at the Jugoya moon while it leaps