お月見 • O-tsukimi • Moon Viewing Festival 2015

by aleks

SJG • 8/29/15 - O-tsukimi:  the lanterns at the front gate. Photo by Nat S.

O-tsukimi (literally moon-viewing)  dates back to 8th century Japan and refers to festivals honoring and admiring the autumn moon;  in more modern times it also incorporates elements of harvest celebration.

SJG • 8/29/15 - O-tsukimi:  the paper lantern.... Photo by Nat S.

2015 has been one of the worst Washington state's years for wildfires - 1200 square miles burned so far,  3 firefighters killed, and the soil parched, even the rainforest (the WET forest) on fire...  So, understandably, we were all wishing for rain. Which finally came, right with the expected super-moon on 9/29.

SJG • 8/29/15 - O-tsukimi:  after the night fell... Photo by Peggy Garber

SJG's  2015 O-tsukimi somehow squeezed itself between the raindrops:  it was short, sweet and to the point - wonderful music, bento boxes, luminaries and boats all happened, albeit NO moon present.. The Seattle Astronomical Society people were there, but didn't open their instruments in this wet weather - they answered all questions, though.  The haiku contest winners at the celebration's closure were read faster and faster, while the rain poured more and more furiously;  until the winner of the first place was announced with this:  'That's IT. Enjoy the rest of the rain in your home'...

SJG • 8/29/15 - O-tsukimi:  after the night fell... Photo by Peggy Garber

• • • 

2015 Moonviewing Haiku Contest Winners

SJG • 8/9/15 - O-tsukimi: Gary Stroutsos on flute

Judged on a rainy night by Tanya McDonald & Michael Dylan Welch
of Haiku Northwest, August 29, 2015, at the Seattle Japanese Garden

First Place:

the moon shines on high

but nobody can see it:

we had prayed for rain

                  —Maurice Varon

Second Place:

out in the garden

I am enjoying a moon

soon to be revealed

                  —Micah McCally

Third Place:

       the koi missed not

the light of moon nor sun’s warmth

       from its wet cold pond

                  —Kristen Beifus

SJG • 8/29/15 O-tsukimi:
Marsha and Kuniko Takamura on koto

Honorable Metions (in no particular order):

moon, rain, and music

make me reprioritize—

taping the Seahawks

                  —Dan Hamann

sweet music of evening

love song of the night garden

moon in my belly

                  —Mauri Dressman (baby due September 8)

SJG • 8/29/15 O-tsukimi: James Jennings on shakuhachi

the moon is shining

on the water the fish sings

and the turtle swims

                  —Yuuki, age 7

beautiful music

fills the void that is the moon

below the rainy skies

                  —Dan Yeo

August 29th

forecast rain

knowing moon

through mist

                  —Ellen McCown

storm scent fills garden

koto notes weave through the air

will full moon split clouds?

                  —Nancy Penrose

gradually the clouds,

just like time, pass on—

waiting for moon

                  —Aleks Monk

loneliness arises

the moon is banished tonight

by thoughts of home

                  —Rodney Smith

SJG • 8/29/15 - O-tsukimi: Gretchen Yanover on cello