Tsukimi

Many Japanese restaurant chains are announcing their Tsukimi Burger menus for this year — but what exactly is Tsukimi?

Tsukimi (月見) or Otsukimi (お月見) literally means "moon viewing." It is a Japanese celebration of the autumn full moon said to have originated from China. The main event, called Jugoya (十五夜, "Fifteenth Night"), falls on August 15 on the old Japanese lunar calendar — which corresponds to October 6 this year on the Gregorian calendar. The full moon on this day is also known as Chushu no Meigetsu (中秋の名月).

Traditionally, Tsukimi refers to both Jugoya and Jusan'ya (十三夜, "Thirteenth Night"), which this year falls on November 2. Viewing the moon on only one of these nights is called "katatsukimi" (片月見) or "katamizuki" (片見月) which is traditionally considered bad luck.

Tsukimi is celebrated by displaying susuki (Japanese pampas grass) and eating Tsukimi dango (round rice dumplings). It is also common to offer sweet potatoes during Jugoya and beans or chestnuts during Jusan'ya.

Other Tsukimi-related foods include Tsukimi udon and Tsukimi soba — noodles topped with an egg, symbolizing the moon. In recent years, fast food chains have joined in by introducing Tsukimi burgers: hamburgers with a fried egg between the buns.

Please do not climb or sit on torii gates, like the angels in the top image, as it is both disrespectful and dangerous in real life.

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