Otsukimi - Moon Viewing

On Saturday, October 15th, JASWDC held the Otsukimi moon viewing event at the U.S. National Arboretum to celebrate the Harvest Moon. True to the ancient tradition, the moon was so round and bright that we could barely see the stars. There were around 200 guests sharing this beautiful moment with us. During the event, we had some fun games for adults as well as children. The meadow was full of people enjoying their obento in a picnic-style setting while listening to koto music from the Washington Toho Koto Society. Some guests wrote and performed haiku, a form of Japanese poetry, while some tried mochitsuki, or mochi pounding. There were also sticks of dango, or mochi shaped into balls, to enjoy while walking around the Arboretum. The sake tasting, provided by Hakutsuru, was also popular with adults. Inside, we had a children’s corner with origami folding, lantern making, and calligraphy etc. Not only the adults, but also the children had a great time during Otsukimi.

To view more photos from Otsukimi, please click here.