How many can you solve? An Otsukimi trivia quiz from general knowledge to surprising fun facts

to express gratitude for the harvest

Since ancient times in Japan, there has been a custom of offering dumplings during the harvest moon (Jugoya) viewing. This practice is meant to express gratitude to the moon for a safe autumn harvest. The dumplings symbolize crops such as rice and carry the meanings of praying for a bountiful harvest and giving thanks for nature’s blessings.

15 pieces

It is traditionally said that fifteen dumplings are offered for the Harvest Moon (Chushu no Meigetsu). This custom is linked to the fifteenth night of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, and on that night people stack fifteen dumplings in a mound as an offering while appreciating the full moon and giving thanks for the harvest. The number may vary by region, but fifteen is the most widely known.

For protection against evil and for prayers for a good harvest

We decorate with pampas grass for moon-viewing because it resembles ears of rice and symbolizes prayers for a good harvest, and its sharp leaves have long been thought to ward off evil. In the past, people would display pampas grass under the eaves of their homes to keep misfortune away, give thanks for the autumn harvest, and pray for a bountiful crop the following year. For these reasons, the custom of decorating with pampas grass during the moon-viewing festival has been passed down over generations.

pounding mochi

In Japanese moon-viewing folklore, it is said that a rabbit lives in the moon, and that rabbit is pounding mochi. This legend arose because the full moon’s patterns look like a rabbit pounding rice cakes. One fun aspect of the moon is that other countries have different animals and stories associated with it.

Chestnut Moon

Jūsan-ya is a traditional Japanese moon-viewing event held on the night of the 13th day of the 9th month in the old lunar calendar. Considered the second most beautiful moon after the Mid-Autumn full moon (Jūgo-ya), this night is also called “Chestnut Moon” or “Bean Moon” because of the custom of offering chestnuts and beans. In contrast, Jūgo-ya is also known as “Taro Moon,” when taro and other foods are offered.

Japan

The Jusan-ya is a uniquely Japanese traditional event held on the 13th night of the ninth month in the old lunar calendar to admire the moon. Alongside the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (the fifteenth night), it is beloved, but unlike the fifteenth night, which came from China, there is no Jusan-ya in China; it began in Japan. It is customary to offer items such as chestnuts and beans and to gaze at the moon.

round shape

In the Kanto region, tsukimi dango are typically simple white dumplings shaped into plain spheres. For the harvest moon viewing on the night of the fifteenth moon, it is traditional to stack these dumplings in a pyramid as decoration. Meanwhile, in the Kansai region, the shapes differ from round ones and vary by area, which is one of the intriguing aspects of Japanese culture.