Seasonal culture
What Is Tsukimi?
Japanese moon-viewing, the 2026 mid-autumn moon date, and why the full moon can fall two nights later.
Seasonal edition / 菊
September 2026
Tsukimi, chrysanthemum and sake, and the four cards of Hanafuda's ninth month.
Three ways into the month
September stories
Material culture
Chrysanthemum and the Sake Cup
The chrysanthemum festival behind September’s sake cup card, and how the cup scores in Koi-Koi.
Hanafuda
September’s Hanafuda Cards
Chrysanthemum, the sake cup, blue ribbon, and the two chaff cards of Hanafuda's ninth month.