Shin’nen’omedetō 新年おめでとう,
“Happy New Year!” Matsuo Basho and Bashō no yōna send you greetings, wishing you and yours peace and harmony throughout the year.
Japanese Lunar Calendar
The Roman calendar had the two-faced god Janus looking backwards and forwards. So, it is not surprising that the Japanese lunar calendar should start with February, not January. For an agricultural society whose lives revolved around the moon it is perfectly logical to want to begin a new year one month after the Winter Solstice (December 21st).
That was, after all, the shortest day of the year.
Thus, the Japanese lunar year often begins in the month we call February. But beware! Because the Gregorian Calendar has been adopted in Japan, one will often see Shiwasu (January) as December, presumably on the theory that shoppers are scurrying to buy presents and celebrate the end of the year as December 31st.
Here are the names of the Japanese lunar months.
| February | Mutsuki 睦月 | Month of Peace and Harmony |
| March | Kisaragi 如月 | Month to Change Clothing |
| April | Yayoi 弥生 | Plants Begin to Grow |
| May | Uzuki 卯月 | Month of Deutzia (Flower Blossoms) |
| June | Satsuki 皐月 | Month to Plant Rice |
| July | Minazuki 水無月 | Month of Water, Flooding |
| August | Fumizuki 文月 | Month of Literature, Arts |
| September | Hazuki 葉月 | Month of Leaves, Leaves Turning Color |
| October | Nagatsuki 長月 | Long Month* |
| November | Kannazuki 神無月 | Month of no Gods |
| December | Shimotsuki 霜月 | Month of Frost |
| January | Shiwasu 師走 | Month of Running Priests |
Notes
February, it is too cold to fight. Isn’t it sweet to begin a New Year not running around but in peace and harmony.
March, the weather keeps changing from cold to warm and back again. And so do the clothes.
April, Spring is in the air, the earth turns green.
May, Cherry trees blossom.
June, plant rice because the summer monsoon rains will soon begin.
July, the rice paddies are flooded.
August, in between the planting and harvesting there is time to read and write.
September, the leaves on the trees turn glorious colors.
October, long because the farmer is harvesting the crops.
November, godless because the gods are off somewhere. The leaves from the tree fallen, brown and black, the earth being bitter and cold.
January, running priest, hurrying to get ready for Lunar New Year.
matsuo-basho-haiku 