December’s gomei evoke crystalline cold, year-end purification, and the quiet anticipation of a new beginning.
December’s gomei evoke crystalline cold, year-end purification, and the quiet anticipation of a new beginning.
| Gomei | Meaning |
|---|---|
| shiwasu | Old lunar name “priests run month” |
| gokuzuki | “Ultimate month” |
| rogetsu | Classical Sino-Japanese “waxing month” |
| kurekozuki | “Month of ancient dusk” |
| harumachizuki | “Month waiting for spring” |
| bantō | Deep late-winter period |
| taisetsu | “Great-Snow” solar term |
| tōji | Winter solstice |
| heisokushite-fuyu-to-naru | “Heaven & earth close; winter is born” micro-season |
| kuma-ana-ni-komoru | “Bears enter dens” micro-season |
| sake-no-uo-muragaru | “Salmon crowd in rivers” micro-season |
| tōjigayu | Azuki-rice gruel for solstice |
| tōji-kabocha | Pumpkin stewed on solstice |
| yuzuyu | Hot bath with floating yuzu |
| yuzukō | Fragrance of ripe yuzu |
| yuzukago | Bamboo basket of yuzu offered at hearth |
| miyuki | Deep settled snow |
| konayuki | Powder snow |
| sasameyuki | Very light flurries |
| botanyuki | Large fluffy flakes |
| awayuki | Transient light snow |
| shinsetsu | Fresh-fallen snow |
| neyuki | Snow that lasts all winter |
| arare | Wintry hail pellets |
| mizore | Sleet |
| fubuki | Blizzard |
| yukiarashi | Snow squall |
| yukiakari | Soft light reflected by snow |
| yukibare | Clear sky after snowstorm |
| yukiyo | Snowy night |
| yukidzuki | Full moon shining on snow |
| tsurara | Long icicles |
| hyōka | “Ice-flowers” on glass |
| kōri-no-omokagami | “Ice-mirror surface” |
| kōri-watari | Walking over frozen lake |
| kanpa | Cold wave |
| genkan | Intense mid-winter cold |
| fuyunagi | Calm sea in winter |
| fuyukodachi | Leafless winter grove |
| kan'ya | Cold night |
| fuyugyō | Winter dawn |
| shimofuka | Very heavy frost |
| toshinokure | Year-end |
| saiban | Year’s last days |
| yukutoshi | “The departing year” |
| toshiwasure | Year-forgetting gathering |
| bōnen | “Forget-the-year” |
| susuharai | Soot-sweeping ceremony |
| ōsōji | Thorough year-end cleaning |
| toshinoichi | Year-end street market |
| shimai-tenjin | Last monthly Tenjin fair (25 Dec) |
| shimai-kōbō | Year-last Kōbō fair (21 Dec) |
| harikuyō | Memorial for broken needles (8 Dec) |
| koto-osame | Last farm or household work day |
| osameyu | Final communal bath of the year |
| jōdō-e | Buddha’s enlightenment ceremony (8 Dec) |
| rōhachi-gayu | Barley-rice gruel served at Jōdō-e |
| seibomōde | Year-end shrine visit |
| nantenmi | Red berries of heavenly-bamboo |
| yukitsubaki | Wild camellia blooming in snow |
| fuyuboke | Winter quince bloom |
| kanbai | First buds of winter plum |
| kanzakura | Cold-season cherry |
| manryō-mi | Scarlet berries of Ardisia |
| soyogo | Japanese holly leaves & red fruit |
| hīragisashi | Holly sprig stuck in eaves |
| mochitsuki | Rice-cake pounding |
| mochibana | Decorative mochi blossoms |
| kirizanshō | Year-end rice-flour sweet with pepper |
| kasujiru | Sake-lees winter soup |
| sumi-osame | Last charcoal delivery for year |
| shimaichaji | Year-final formal tea gathering |
| kamanari | Humming of kettle on hearth |
| yugekō | Fragrance of rising steam |
| kazahana | Sparkling wind-borne snow dust |
| yukishigure | Passing flurry of snow |
| itetaki | Frozen waterfall |
| hyōheki | Sheet of vertical ice |
| secca | Snow crystals |
| yuki-usagi | Small snow rabbit made by children |
| yukimitō | Stone lantern for snow viewing |
| gins sekai | “Silver world” |
| yukidaruma | Snowman |
| yukimi-shōji | Low-sill paper screen for viewing snow |
| yukimibune | Boat outing among falling snow |
| joya | New-Year’s-eve night |
| joya-no-kane | 108-stroke temple bell |
| misokazuki | Very slim waning moon on 30th night |
| tsukigomori | “Moon hiding” (month ends) |
| toyagari | Geese settling in night roost |
| kangarasu | Crow in bleak cold |
| fuyutaka | Hawk hunting in winter fields |
| kotatsu-neko | Cat curled in the kotatsu |
| kotatsumori | “Kotatsu guardian” |
| sumibidan | Warmth from charcoal brazier |
| hibachi | Charcoal hand-brazier |
| yukimizake | Sake enjoyed while watching snow |
| shimoyonabe | Hot-pot on a frosty night |
| fuyuseiza | Brilliant winter constellations |
| naminohana | Foamy “flowers” on winter waves |
| kagamimochi | Stacked New-Year rice cakes |
| shimekazari | New-Year straw festoon |
| kadomatsu | Paired pine New-Year gate decoration |
| ehō | Lucky compass direction for coming year |
| shiwasu | Shiwasu (Poetic month name) |
| tōji | Winter Solstice |
| taisetsu | Greater Snow |
| yuki | Snow |
| seiya | Holy Night (Christmas Eve) |
| toshi no se | Year's End |
| ōsōji | Big Cleaning |
| buji | No Incident / Safe and Sound |
| yuzu | Yuzu Citrus |
| joya no kane | New Year's Eve Bell |
| susuharai | Soot Sweeping |
| kantsubaki | Winter Camellia |
| suisen | Narcissus |
| oshidori | Mandarin Duck |
| kōri | Ice |
| hatsuyuki | First Snow |
| fuyugomori | Winter Confinement |
| mochitsuki | Mochi Pounding |
| toshi no kure | End of the Year |
| hiiragi | Holly |
| fuyu no yo | Winter Night |
| ichiyō raifuku | Return of the Sun |
| yobanashi | Night Conversation |
| akatsuki no chaji | Dawn Tea Gathering |
| seibo | Year-end Gift |
| fuyukodachi | Wintry Grove of Trees |
| senryō | Sarcandra glabra |
| manryō | Ardisia crenata |
| karesansui | Dry Landscape Garden |
| yukidaruma | Snowman |
| fuyugeshiki | Winter Scenery |
| yama nemuru_december | The Mountains Sleep |
| kangetsu_dec | Winter Moon |
| poinsechia | Poinsettia |
| ginsekai | Silver World |
| toshikoshi soba | Year-crossing Noodles |
| yuku toshi | The Passing Year |
| kanki | Winter Cold / Cold Air |
| yukiakari | Snow Light |
| shimogare | Withered by Frost |
| fuyu no kawa | Winter River |
| kabocha_december | Pumpkin / Squash |
| tsurara | Icicle |
| santa kurōsu | Santa Claus |
| yukitsuri_december | Snow Ropes |
| kanjaku | Tranquil Silence |
| roka | Hearth Fire |
| tonakai | Reindeer |
| rōbai | Wintersweet |
| fukujusō_december | Amur Adonis |
| kanrin | Wintry Forest |
| shimoyo | Frosty Night |
| purezento | Present |
| miyuki | Deep Snow |
| ōmisoka | New Year's Eve |
| saigetsu | Time / Years |
| sekka_crystal | Snow Blossom / Snowflake |
| yukimi | Snow Viewing |
| shirogane_december | Silver |
| fuyu no hoshi | Winter Stars |
| kazari | Decoration |
| beru | Bell |
| karamatsu_december | Larch |
| kanbai_dec | Winter Plum |
| yukiguni | Snow Country |
| neyuki | Lingering Snow |
| howaito kurisumasu | White Christmas |
| shimobashira_december | Frost Columns |
| fuyumoe_december | Winter Sprouting |
| toshiyōi | New Year Preparations |
| toshiwasure | Forgetting the Year |
| fuyugasumi | Winter Haze |
| fuyubare | Clear Winter Day |
| kansuzume | Winter Sparrow |
| yuki usagi_december | Snow Rabbit |
| danro | Fireplace / Hearth |
| itezora | Frozen Sky |
| kyandoru | Candle |
| joya | New Year's Eve |
| kurisumasu | Christmas |
| toshi no ichi | Year-end Market |
| fuyutsubaki | Winter Camellia |
| saimatsu | End of the Year (formal) |
| kan no mizu | Winter Water |
| fuyu no ume | Winter Plum |
The twelfth month (Shiwasu) bustles with preparation yet cultivates reflective stillness inside the tea room. Names like “Kan-Zakura” (Cold Cherry), “Hatsushimo” (First Snow), or “Yukimi-Gama” (Snow-Viewing Kettle) highlight wintry clarity, while “Susuharai” (Soot-Sweeping) and “Toshi-Kosshi” (Year-Crossing) point to the great house-cleaning and purification rites of 13 and 31 December. Evergreen pine sprigs foreshadow the New Year, and guests may receive sweets shaped like plum buds or rising suns to suggest the cycle about to renew. The brazier’s deep glow, the kettle’s quiet hum, and scrolls reflecting gratitude for the departing year combine to leave participants cleansed, warmed, and ready to welcome “the firsts” of January once more.