1.
night of the full moon; harvest moon
The fifteenth night of the eighth month in the traditional lunar calendar, celebrated as a moon-viewing occasion. By extension, the full moon itself.
Literally "fifteenth night," referring to the fifteenth night of the eighth lunar month (around mid-September to early October in the modern calendar). This is the most important moon-viewing (月見) occasion in Japan, also called 中秋の名月 (harvest moon of mid-autumn).
Traditional customs include displaying 月見団子 (moon-viewing dumplings), 薄 (pampas grass), and seasonal offerings. The image of a rabbit pounding rice cakes on the moon (月のうさぎ) is strongly associated with this night.
Common collocations
- 十五夜の月: the harvest moon
- 十五夜の月見: harvest moon viewing
- 十五夜に団子を供える: to offer dango on the harvest moon night