Calendar of Japanese Festivals in September

September (Nagatsuki)

Flowers of the Month: Hagi (Bushclover) and others of the 'Seven Grasses of Autumn'

Lunar Calendar: between 8/10 and 9/9, nationwide:	Moon Viewing This night, there are moon viewing parties and events at many shrines and temples. Also see what Basho wrote about moonviewing.
Lunar Calendar: between 8/10 and 9/9, Kyoto:	Kangetsu no Yube, Daikakuji The most famous moonviewing party, called "Kangetsu no Yube" is held at Daikakuji (from 17:00-). Dragon boats sail on Osawa Pond as in Heian times for this festival of the harvest moon.
Sept. 12-18, Fukuoka:	Hojoya, Hakozaki Shrine Birds and fish are released back into nature in a Buddhist ritual in this shrine in Fukuoka. On September 18, pigeons are set free.
Sept. 9, nationwide:	Choyo no Sekku Chrysanthemum festival. Basho wrote a nice haiku about this festival.
Sept. 14-16, Kamakura:	Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Matsuri Festival of Kamakura's major shrine. Yabusame (archery on horseback) on Sept. 16.
Sept. 14-15, Kishiwada (Osaka):	Danjiri Matsuri Danjiri festival of Kishiwada, 30 min south Namba on the Nankai line. Fight between large floats crashing into each other, while young men waving fans balance themselves on the roofs of the floats.
Sept. 15, Tokyo	Unveiling of the Amida statue in Zojoji
Sept. 18, Kamakura:	Menkake Gyoretsu, Goryo Shrine Procession of people wearing grotesque masks from the Goryo Shrine to Gokurakuji Temple (from 13:30). Based on a legend that Yoritomo had affair with outcast girl whom he visited accompanied by masked men to hide his identity. The masks are antique pieces from the mid 18th c.
Sept. 18, Tokyo:	Roka festival (Roka Keishunen, Setagaya) Dedicated to the memory of Tokutomi Roka, the "Japanese Tolstoy."
Sept. 21-22, Kamakura:	Takigi Noh at Kamakura Shrine Torch light Noh performance in the Kamakura-gu Shrine (18:00-). Apply in advance by ofuku hagaki .
Sept. 21-22, Tokyo:	Festival of the Nezu Shrine
Sept. 23, nationwide:	Autumnal Equinox Day Higan, visiting the family graves.

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