On October 6, 2025, Japan celebrates the Mid-Autumn Moon (chushu no meigetsu), one of the most beloved seasonal events in the Japanese calendar. Known as tsukimi—literally “moon viewing”—this festival highlights Japan’s deep cultural connection between the moon, the harvest, and the traditional “lunisolar” calendar.
For centuries, Japanese people have looked up at the full moon in autumn, offering prayers and expressing gratitude for the rice harvest. A central custom is preparing tsukimi dango (moon-viewing rice dumplings), placed before the moon to give thanks for the year’s crops and to wish for good fortune in the year ahead.
Culturally, the full moon has inspired imagination and storytelling. In Japan, many see the shape of a rabbit pounding rice cakes on the moon’s surface. This image of a “moon rabbit” is not unique to Japan—it appears in folklore across Asia.
As the Mid-Autumn Moon rises this year, we invite you to look up and wonder: what do you see in the face of the moon?
(About us)
Inui International Law Firm, Kyoto – We specialize in renewable energy, permitting, and project development in Japan, while also sharing cultural insights that reflect the traditions of our country.