June’s poetic names revolve around water—summer rains, flooded rice paddies, and the purifying half-year rite.
June’s poetic names revolve around water—summer rains, flooded rice paddies, and the purifying half-year rite.
| Gomei | Meaning |
|---|---|
| minazuki | Old lunar name of June (“month of water”) |
| nagoshi | Passing into summer (mid-year) |
| nagoshi-no-harae | Mid-year Great Purification |
| chinowa | Ring of cogon grass |
| chinowa-kuguri | Passing through the grass ring |
| minazuki-barae | Alternative term for nagoshi-harae |
| somin-shōrai | Talisman word on nagoshi plaques |
| minazuki-kashi | Triangular rice-cake sweet |
| himuro | Icehouse offering rite |
| kōri | Ice (summer use) |
| hyōka | Shaved-ice sweets |
| tsurara | Blocks of ice used as décor |
| ryō-ichimi | “Single flavour of coolness” |
| ryōro | Portable brazier for summer |
| ryōfū | Cool early-summer breeze |
| kazekaoru | Scented wind |
| kunpū2 | Balmy fragrant breeze |
| fūsenkazu-ra | Bladder-vine |
| geshi | Summer solstice |
| hangeshō | Half-summer day (11 days after solstice) |
| hangeshō-sō | Saururus plant in bloom |
| tsuyu | Rainy season |
| nyūbai | Official start of tsuyu |
| tsuyu-iri | Onset of rainy season |
| tsuyubare | Brief sunny spell in tsuyu |
| tsuyuzora | Overcast tsuyu sky |
| tsuyugumo | Rainy-season clouds |
| tsuyuzamu | Chill felt during tsuyu |
| naga-ame | Long continuous rain |
| amenochi-hare | Clear sky after rain |
| amagaeru | Japanese tree-frog chirping |
| kawazu | Frogs in chorus |
| kawasei | Sound of frogs |
| sanae-zukiyo | Moonlit night over rice seedlings |
| tamizukagami | “Water-mirror” of flooded fields |
| aotakaze2 | Breeze over young rice |
| sanae-ae | Feast after rice planting |
| ajisai | Hydrangea blossom |
| shichi-henge | Hydrangea’s colour‐changing trait |
| temaribana | Globe hydrangea |
| gaku-ajisai | Lace-cap hydrangea |
| hanashōbu-en | Iris gardens at peak |
| kakitsubata-den | Pond thick with kakitsubata iris |
| suichūka | Flowers floating in glass bowl |
| suiren | Water-lily blossoms |
| hasu-hajimete-hiraku | “Lotus begins to bloom” micro-season |
| kōhone | Yellow water-lily |
| hanatachibana-kō | Fragrance of citrus blossoms |
| tachibana-kaze | Wind carrying citrus scent |
| hanatachibana | Tachibana blossoms |
| kuchinashi | Cape jasmine bloom |
| kuchinashi-kō | Fragrance of gardenia |
| hanatachibana-yoru | Nightly scent of tachibana |
| aotsuyu2 | Deep-green tsuyu |
| wakabarai | Thunder through fresh leaves |
| hashirigatsuo | First bonito of summer |
| unagi | Eel (before midsummer) |
| ayu-kaikin | Start of wild-ayu fishing |
| waka-ayu-mochi | Rolled sweet shaped like ayu |
| ayu-kōgyo | Fragrant ayu sweet-fish |
| hotaru | Fireflies |
| hotarugari | Firefly viewing |
| hotarukago | Bamboo cage for fireflies |
| hotarubi | Firefly lights |
| mijikayo | Short summer night |
| yoimijika | Brief evening twilight |
| natsu-tomoshi | Summer lamplight |
| yūdachi | Early-summer evening shower |
| yūdachigumo2 | Anvil clouds of showers |
| nyūdōgumo | First summer thunder-clouds |
| kumonomine | Summer cloud peaks |
| aoarashi2 | Green early-summer gale |
| kuina | Water-rail bird |
| jūyaku | Flowering Houttuynia |
| kaminari-gusa | Dayflower sprout |
| aosudare | Green bamboo blinds |
| sudaremaki | Rolling up blinds for breeze |
| uchiwa | Flat summer fan |
| shirahae | South breeze after tsuyu |
| kurohae | Moist south wind before storm |
| aotanami | “Green-field waves” of rice |
| tamizu-waku | Water in paddies bubbling |
| aokaede-ame | Rain glistening on green maples |
| aomomiji | Un-turned maple leaves |
| waka-ayu-yana | Weir catching young ayu |
| kawadoko | Riverside platform dining |
| suiton | Stone-weighted bed mat |
| aodake-chashaku | Fresh-cut green-bamboo chashaku |
| takenaru-kaze | Wind soughing in bamboo |
| aosusuki | Fresh-green pampas grass |
| yūsuzumi | Evening cooling pastime |
| suzumiboshi | Night airing of clothes/bedding |
| ryōu | Cool refreshing rain |
| aosudarekage | Shadow cast by green blinds |
| mozuku | Edible mozuku seaweed |
| wakame-hoshi | Drying wakame seaweed |
| hechima-nae | Luffa seedlings |
| aouri | Young cucumber/gourd |
| kyūri-momi | Vinegared cucumber salad |
| mugicha-kō | Aroma of roasted barley tea |
| aoume-shu | Liqueur of green plums |
| umenomi-kibami2 | Plum fruits turn yellow |
| bōshu | Grain-in-ear solar term |
| kusaretaru-kusa-hotaru-to-naru | “Rotten grass turns to fireflies” micro-season |
| saika-aoshi | Vegetables all lush green |
| minazuki-ryō | Coolness sought in Minazuki |
| ajisai | Hydrangea |
| hotaru | Firefly |
| samidare | Early Summer Rain |
| tsuyu / baiu | Rainy Season |
| ayu | Ayu / Sweetfish |
| taki | Waterfall |
| ryō | Coolness |
| kakitsubata | Rabbit-Ear Iris |
| aoume | Green Plum |
| minazuki | Minazuki (Poetic month name) |
| geshi | Summer Solstice |
| koke | Moss |
| ukai | Cormorant Fishing |
| himuro | Ice House |
| natsu-kodachi | Summer Grove |
| mizu no oto | Sound of Water |
| katatsumuri | Snail |
| nyūbai | Start of the Rainy Season |
| ryōfū | Cool Breeze |
| minamo | Water's Surface |
| amayadori | Taking Shelter from Rain |
| mijikayo | Short Night |
| niji | Rainbow |
| natsukusa | Summer Grass |
| suiren | Water Lily |
| aobakaze | Green Leaf Wind |
| amagaeru | Tree Frog |
| kagaribi | Bonfire / Watch Fire |
| natsu-goromo | Summer Clothes |
| kajō | Kajō (Sweet-eating Day) |
| ugo no tsuki | Moon After Rain |
| seiryū_june | Clear Stream |
| iwashimizu_june | Rock Spring Water |
| shichihenge | Seven Transformations |
| ryokuin | Shade of Trees |
| hototogisu_june | Lesser Cuckoo |
| hangeshō | Lizard's Tail Plant |
| kuchinashi | Gardenia |
| natsu-tsubaki | Japanese Stewartia |
| shitadari | Dripping |
| chikuro | Dew on Bamboo |
| shiraito no taki | White Thread Waterfall |
| amadare | Raindrop |
| hayase_june | Rapids |
| seitai | Green Moss |
| natsuno | Summer Field |
| wakatake | Young Bamboo |
| natsugumo | Summer Clouds |
| wakakaede | Young Maple |
| koromogae | Changing of Clothes |
| satsuki | Satsuki Azalea |
| ayame_hana | Iris sanguinea |
| tama-ajisai | Hydrangea involucrata |
| tsuribune | Fishing Boat |
| natsuyama | Summer Mountain |
| aoshigure | Rain Falling on Green Leaves |
| hotarubi | Firefly's Light |
| meigetsu_june | Bright Moon |
| sekirei | Wagtail |
| seiryū_aonagare | Green Stream |
| kuina_june | Water Rail |
| hakuu | White Rain / Squall |
| fūrin | Wind Chime |
| kokegoromo | Moss Garb |
| itteki | A Single Drop |
| iwatsubame | Crag Martin |
| natsu basho | Summer Grand Sumo Tournament |
| hitsujigusa | Pygmy Water-lily |
| aosagi | Grey Heron |
| mizuoto | Sound of Water |
| take no fushi | Bamboo Joint |
| satsukiyami | Darkness of the Fifth Month |
| otoshibumi | Rolled-leaf Weevil's Cradle |
| natsuake | Summer Dawn |
| izumi | Spring / Fountain |
| mizutama | Water Drop / Polka Dot |
| senshin | Cleansed Heart |
| amabare | Clearing After Rain |
| sara / shara | Stewartia / Deciduous Camellia |
| hotarugari | Firefly Watching |
| seseragi | Babbling Brook |
| iwatsutsuji | Rock Azalea |
In the humid month of Minazuki, hydrangeas blush through shifting showers, inspiring gomei such as “Ajisai-iro” (Hydrangea Hue) or “Samidare” (Early-Summer Rain). The Shinto ceremony of Nagoshi no Harae (30 June) encourages words of absolution and renewal, so tea utensils might be christened “Misogi” (Purification). Cool water is emphasized: lids are opened theatrically to let steam escape, and bamboo water scoops appear slender and long. The atmosphere invites quiet gratitude for the life-giving rain that sustains newly planted rice and, by extension, the tea itself.