1.
January; first month (traditional calendar name)
The traditional Japanese name for the first month of the year. Originally referred to the first month of the lunar calendar but is now associated with January in the modern calendar.
一月の別名は睦月だ。
The traditional name for January is Mutsuki.
睦月という名前は親戚が仲むつまじく集まる月に由来する。
The name Mutsuki comes from the month when relatives gather in close harmony.
和風の手紙やカレンダーでは、一月を睦月と書くことがある。
In Japanese-style letters and calendars, January is sometimes written as Mutsuki.
Part of the traditional Japanese month naming system (和風月名). The name is thought to derive from 睦び月 (month of harmony), as families gather at New Year. The full set of twelve traditional month names: 睦月 (1st), 如月 (2nd), 弥生 (3rd), 卯月 (4th), 皐月 (5th), 水無月 (6th), 文月 (7th), 葉月 (8th), 長月 (9th), 神無月 (10th), 霜月 (11th), 師走 (12th). Also used as a given name, particularly for girls.