Otsukimi is a traditional event or festival held in Japan on the 15th of August by the old lunar calendar, which happens to fall this year on September 15th 2016 by our modern calendar. Otsukimi means “moon viewing” in Japanese. We are supposed to view the full moon and appreciate the year’s harvest, but since it goes by the old calendar which is not perfect, it sometimes happens that you cannot actually view the full moon on this day. For example this year the full moon falls on the 17th of September, two days later. Anyway, on Otsukimi we Japanese still offer dumplings, fruits, and vegetables to the Kami (gods, or powers of nature) to show our appreciation for this year’s harvest.
