October’s names revel in deepening autumn—flaming maple leaves, drifting chestnut burrs, and geese slicing across a cloudless sky.
October’s names revel in deepening autumn—flaming maple leaves, drifting chestnut burrs, and geese slicing across a cloudless sky.
| Gomei | Meaning |
|---|---|
| kannazuki | Old lunar name “month with no gods” (all gods leave for Izumo) |
| kamiarizuki | “Month when the gods are present” (Izumo only) |
| ryōgetsu | “Good month” |
| shigurezuki | Old nickname “month of passing showers” |
| nochinotsuki | The after-harvest moon (second moon-viewing) |
| jūsanya | Thirteenth-night moon |
| kurimeigetsu | “Chestnut moon” (popular name for Jūsanya) |
| kanro | “Cold-Dew” solar term |
| sōkō | “Frost-Descent” solar term |
| kōgan-kitaru | “Wild geese arrive” micro-season |
| kiku-no-hana-hiraku | “Chrysanthemums bloom” micro-season |
| kirigirisu-to-ni-ari | “Crickets sing at the door” micro-season |
| sai-sunawachi-kemono-wo-matsuru | “Jackals store prey” micro-season |
| shimo-hajimete-furu | “First frost falls” micro-season |
| kosame-tokidoki-furu | “Occasional light rains” micro-season |
| momiji-tsuta-kibamu | “Maple & ivy turn yellow” micro-season |
| kinshū | “Brocade autumn” |
| momiji | Coloured maple leaves |
| hatsumomiji | First leaves turning red |
| terimomiji | Sun-lit scarlet leaves |
| kinshūdani | “Brocade valley” dense coloured woods |
| konoha | Tree leaves in general |
| ochiba | Fallen leaves |
| ochibahaki | Sweeping fallen leaves |
| kimorigaki | Persimmon left on the tree for birds |
| jukushi | Soft-ripe persimmon |
| hoshigaki | Persimmon being sun-dried |
| ringo-gari | Apple-picking outing |
| shinshu | First sake of the brewing year |
| hiyaoroshi | Autumn-released sake |
| shinsobako | Fresh buckwheat flour |
| daizuuhi | Threshing soybeans |
| satoimoni | Simmered taro autumn dish |
| tarabagani | Red king crab in season |
| sake-sojō | Salmon running upstream |
| hatsuburi | Season’s first yellowtail |
| kogarashi | First wintry gale |
| kogarashi-ichigō | “First official kogarashi” announced |
| asazamu | Morning chill |
| yozamu | Night chill |
| tsuyuzamu-yo | Chilly dewy night |
| hatsushimo | First frost |
| shimoyo | Frosty night |
| shimomigusa | “Frost-viewing grasses” |
| shigure | Passing autumn shower |
| asashigure | Morning shigure |
| konoha-shigure | “Leaf-shower” (leaves falling like rain) |
| kotorikitari | “Little birds arrive” |
| tsugumi | Dusky thrush |
| shirosekirei | White wagtail by streams |
| yamayosoō | “Mountains deck themselves” |
| satomomiji | Red leaves in village precincts |
| kōraku | Yellow leaves falling |
| ichōmomiji | Ginkgo leaves turning gold |
| nanakamado | Japanese rowan berries |
| tsutamomiji | Crimson ivy leaves |
| terihakyo | Shining-leaf gorge (famous scenic spot) |
| nishikigoi | Multi-coloured carp seen in clear ponds |
| kawamomiji | Floating leaves colouring a stream |
| momijigari | Outing to view coloured leaves |
| terikurenai | Bright glowing crimson |
| shūtō | Autumn lamplight |
| kuri-hiroi | Chestnut gathering |
| yakiguri | Roasted chestnuts |
| matsuteire | Pine needle pruning in gardens |
| kanpūdai | “Maple-viewing platform” in tea-garden |
| jidai-matsuri | Kyoto “Festival of the Ages” (22 Oct) |
| kanname-sai | Ise Grand Harvest Festival (17 Oct) |
| inokomochi | Rice-cakes for the “Day of the Boar” |
| inoko-matsuri | Boar-day pounding festival |
| sumitorimushi | Cricket kept to foresee charcoal quality |
| rosasagi | Closing the summer brazier space |
| akigomori | Season of retreat indoors to read |
| fumikō | Sachet for seasonal letters |
| keigetsu | “Cinnabar moon” (bright clear moon) |
| ariakezuki | Dawn-hanging waning moon |
| hoshizukiyo2 | Star-filled night after frost |
| gingasumu | “Milky Way clear” |
| kanzemi-no-owari | Last cries of cicadas |
| matsutake-gari | Hunting matsutake mushrooms |
| mino-mushi | Bagworm’s plaintive cry |
| kaiose | Wind that washes shells ashore |
| iwashigumo2 | Mackerel-sky after cold dew |
| sabagumo | “Mackerel-clouds” variant |
| noyaki | Autumn grassland burning |
| hasabiyori | Fine day ideal for drying sheaves |
| okute | Late-ripening rice |
| shimotsukimachi | Awaiting the Frost-Month (Nov) |
| roza | Sitting in open dew at dawn |
| akifukashi | “Autumn deepens” |
| aki-oshimu | Reluctance at autumn’s dying |
| yonagacha | Tea enjoyed on long nights |
| yobanashi | Night-time tea gathering by hearth |
| kotatsubiraki | First setting up of the kotatsu |
| satokagura | Village Shintō music & dance |
| hōnen-odori | Harvest-thanksgiving dance |
| chitose-ame | Long candy for Shichi-Go-San prep |
| kikukisewata | Custom of placing cotton on kiku |
| donguri | Acorn |
| shō-no-ne | Sound of shō mouth-organ at autumn rites |
| shikanaku | Stags bellowing |
| momijijika | Deer framed by coloured leaves |
| shimomizuki | “Month of viewing frost” |
| kōyō / momiji | Autumn Leaves |
| kuri | Chestnut |
| kaki | Persimmon |
| matsutake | Matsutake Mushroom |
| akimatsuri | Autumn Festival |
| kinshū | Brocade Autumn |
| momijigari | Maple Leaf Viewing |
| inekari | Rice Reaping |
| tatsutahime | Goddess of Autumn |
| yama yoso'u | The Mountains Adorn Themselves |
| hatsu shimo | First Frost |
| kanro | Cold Dew |
| sōkō | Frost Descends |
| nagori | Parting Traces / Relics |
| konomi | Nuts / Berries |
| aki no kure | Autumn Dusk |
| shinmai | New Rice |
| kinoko | Mushroom |
| tōka shitashimu | Befriending the Lamplight |
| ochibo_oct | Gleanings / Fallen Grain |
| tatsutagawa | Tatsuta River |
| hōjō | Rich Harvest |
| teriha_oct | Shining Leaves |
| yamaji_oct | Mountain Path |
| tsuta | Ivy |
| shigure_oct | First Autumn/Winter Showers |
| shūshi | Autumn Melancholy |
| akibare_oct | Clear Autumn Weather |
| momijiba | Maple Leaf |
| minomushi | Bagworm |
| dokusho | Reading |
| geijutsu no aki | Autumn for the Arts |
| gencho | Gencho (Day of the Boar) |
| inoko-mochi_oct | Boar Child Mochi |
| ochiba_oct | Fallen Leaves |
| ringo | Apple |
| nishiki | Brocade |
| akiakane | Autumn Darter Dragonfly |
| inuru natsu | The Summer That Has Passed |
| tsurube-otoshi | Like a Falling Well Bucket |
| tsukimachi | Waiting for the Moon |
| kairo | Opening the Hearth (in spirit) |
| kinmokusei | Fragrant Olive |
| jidai matsuri | Festival of the Ages |
| kozue no aki | Autumn on the Treetops |
| shukaku | Harvest |
| zangiku_oct | Lingering Chrysanthemums |
| kiku no ka | Scent of Chrysanthemums |
| aki no kumo_oct | Autumn Clouds |
| harowin | Halloween |
| musashino_oct | Musashino Plain |
| murasakishikibu_plant | Japanese beautyberry |
| akebi | Akebia |
| hatsu shigure | First Autumn Shower |
| shūki | Autumn Air/Atmosphere |
| shōfū_oct | Wind in the Pines / Kettle Sound |
| nagori no cha | Tea of Parting |
| ariake no tsuki_oct | Dawn Moon |
| haze | Wax Tree |
| akibiyori | Fine Autumn Day |
| mayumi | Spindle Tree |
| ginmokusei | Silver Osmanthus |
| nagori no tsuki | Parting Moon |
| hanano_oct | Field of Autumn Flowers |
| kurumi | Walnut |
| mukago | Yam Bulbils |
| kosumosu_oct | Cosmos |
| zakuro | Pomegranate |
| nagori no furo | Parting Brazier |
| ebisukō | Ebisu Festival |
| tōkan'ya | Tenth Night |
| budō | Grapes |
| satsumaimo | Sweet Potato |
| wabi_oct | Wabi aesthetic |
| sabi_oct | Sabi aesthetic |
| yosamu | Night Cold |
| asazamu | Morning Cold |
| kaede | Maple Tree |
| kaki momiji | Persimmon Leaves |
| shūrei_cold | Autumn Chill |
| kikubiyori | Perfect Chrysanthemum Weather |
| nakajoki | Mid-hearth placement |
| minori no aki | Autumn of Harvest |
| karasuuri | Snake Gourd |
| shokuyoku no aki | Autumn for Appetite |
| kannazuki | Kannazuki (Godless Month) |
| kakashi | Scarecrow |
| aki fukashi | Autumn Deepens |
| kamiarizuki | Kamiarizuki (God-present Month) |
| ten takashi | The Heavens are High |
| taiiku no hi | Health and Sports Day |
| inoko_oct | Day of the Boar |
| kurama no himatsuri | Kurama Fire Festival |
| akinokoe | Voice of Autumn |
| shūshoku | Autumn Colors/Scenery |
| hototogisu_plant | Toad Lily |
| kure no aki | The End of Autumn |
| kinokogari | Mushroom Hunting |
| aki no ta | Autumn Rice Paddy |
Called Kannazuki (“the gods’ month”), October summons rust-red mountains and the earthy fragrance of fallen leaves. Gomei like “Momiji-gari” (Maple Hunting), “Kari-kōro” (Wild-Goose Calls), or “Shiko-Konoha” (Crimson Carpeting Leaves) place the guest in a forest of color. Mushrooms, chestnuts, and persimmons dominate both sweets and poetic imagery, while a water jar might be christened “Kiri-no-Ue” (Above the Mist) to evoke dawn fog rolling through valleys. The brazier is still portable (furo), but charcoal fires feel welcome again; the atmosphere is contemplative, urging guests to savor the mature richness that precedes winter’s austerity.