Tsukimi: Moon Viewing Festival

Tsuki-ni-Hoshi, moon star, is the crest of Shinmachi. Beyond a few of its other meanings, we chose this crest because of its direct connection to our patron kami, Tsukiyomi-no-mikoto. We, as courtesans, look to his guidance and protection as we ply our trade during those hours the moon god has dominance in the sky.

Thus, tsukimi is a very important time for us and we have been remiss in our duties in not having a festival to honor Tsukiyomi-sama. Tsukimi, or moon viewing, is the Japanese Festival honoring the Autumn moon. From Wikipedia, "Tsukimi refers to the Japanese tradition of holding parties to view the harvest moon. The custom is thought to have originated with Japanese aristocrats during the Heian period, who would gather to recite poetry under the full moon of the eighth month of the lunisolar calendar, known as the "Mid-Autumn Moon." Since ancient times, Japanese people have described the eighth lunisolar month (corresponding to September on the contemporary Gregorian calendar) as the best time for looking at the moon, since the relative positions of the earth, sun, and moon cause the moon to appear especially bright."

I hope you can join us for at least one (maybe all) of the festival events we have scheduled for the end of next week. And, if you have a chance, you should visit the Matsubaya Oiran Ageya and Yukaku on the 13th at 7pm slt - the stunning courtesans there will also be holding there second O-Tsukimi Matsuri.

Shinmachi Tsukimi Schedule

September 18, 2013
Time: 5pm slt
Event: Poetry Reading
Location: Yukaku Ryukin at Aosagi

September 19, 2013
Time: 5pm slt
Event: Tea Ceremony for Tsukiyomi, Patron Kami of Shinmachi
Location: Near the Yukaku Ryukin building at Aosagi

September 20, 2013
Time: 6pm slt
Event: Moon Odori
Location: Dojo at Keisei