Tsukimi (Moon-viewing)
I like fall season. Leaves start changing its color to red,yellow .. and paint the mountains beautifully.In Japan, many people enjoy autumnal tints. Great season for hiking.
Fall is not just about autumnal tints. It is also about Moon-viewing or what we call "Tsukimi". Tsu ki means "moon" in Japanese and mi means "viewing" in Japanese.
When I was a kid,my parents told me a story about rabbits making rice cake in the moon. Father pointed out the moon and says "Look at the moon. Rabbits live in the moon. You see the shady pattern in the moon? Doesn't it look like rabbit making rice cake?" Up until recently,I did not know why moon is related to rabbit and many Japanese kids hear this "Rabbit in the moon" story from parents.
According to tyuusyuu site (Japanese website), the story about rabbit living in the moon and making rice cake came from India. To welcome Buddhism god "Indra", fox offered fish, Monkey offered chestnut, but rabbit grilled themselves and offered own meat.So, god was very touched by rabbits' courageous act,and he gave the moon to rabbits to live in.That is why, there is a story talks about rabbit lives in the moon. Now,why people say they are making rice cake in the moon? Full moon in astronomy words is called "Bou Tsuki" in Japanese. Chinese characters have more than one ways to be read.Then,in Chinese character,if changed how to be read,you can read as "Mochi tsuki".So, people believe that someone made up the story regarding on "rice cake making" part in rabbit story.
Every full moon in September,a festival called "Tsuki mi" is hold to enjoy viewing the full moon, and to cerebrate the harvest. Usually,seven flowers of autumn,eulalia, tsukimi dango (rice dumpling) ,and vegetables are displayed.You can read history behind "Moon viewing" at wikipedia. To read the history behind "Moon-viewing",please click here.
Tsuki mi dango (Rice dumpling) is easy to make if you could find "glutinous rice flour". All you need is Shiratama ko and water. It is kind of like gnocchi or spatzel made from glutinous rice flour. Just mix shiratama ko and water,knead it and drop to boiling water. I googled and found one supplier that carry "Shiratama ko" in Canada. This item is Shiratama ko. If you have Asian store near you,you may find this.
What is Shiratama ko?
Shiratama ko is powdery flour made from Glutinous rice that is polished,washed, and soaked in water 10 hours.Then washed,pulverized,and dried.
If you could find this flour,why not try new thing with your family? Make Tsukimi dango with kids and enjoy watching the full moon in September. Then, you maybe can tell story about rabbits making rice cake in the moon?
Fall is not just about autumnal tints. It is also about Moon-viewing or what we call "Tsukimi". Tsu ki means "moon" in Japanese and mi means "viewing" in Japanese.
When I was a kid,my parents told me a story about rabbits making rice cake in the moon. Father pointed out the moon and says "Look at the moon. Rabbits live in the moon. You see the shady pattern in the moon? Doesn't it look like rabbit making rice cake?" Up until recently,I did not know why moon is related to rabbit and many Japanese kids hear this "Rabbit in the moon" story from parents.
According to tyuusyuu site (Japanese website), the story about rabbit living in the moon and making rice cake came from India. To welcome Buddhism god "Indra", fox offered fish, Monkey offered chestnut, but rabbit grilled themselves and offered own meat.So, god was very touched by rabbits' courageous act,and he gave the moon to rabbits to live in.That is why, there is a story talks about rabbit lives in the moon. Now,why people say they are making rice cake in the moon? Full moon in astronomy words is called "Bou Tsuki" in Japanese. Chinese characters have more than one ways to be read.Then,in Chinese character,if changed how to be read,you can read as "Mochi tsuki".So, people believe that someone made up the story regarding on "rice cake making" part in rabbit story.
Every full moon in September,a festival called "Tsuki mi" is hold to enjoy viewing the full moon, and to cerebrate the harvest. Usually,seven flowers of autumn,eulalia, tsukimi dango (rice dumpling) ,and vegetables are displayed.You can read history behind "Moon viewing" at wikipedia. To read the history behind "Moon-viewing",please click here.
Tsuki mi dango (Rice dumpling) is easy to make if you could find "glutinous rice flour". All you need is Shiratama ko and water. It is kind of like gnocchi or spatzel made from glutinous rice flour. Just mix shiratama ko and water,knead it and drop to boiling water. I googled and found one supplier that carry "Shiratama ko" in Canada. This item is Shiratama ko. If you have Asian store near you,you may find this.
What is Shiratama ko?
Shiratama ko is powdery flour made from Glutinous rice that is polished,washed, and soaked in water 10 hours.Then washed,pulverized,and dried.
If you could find this flour,why not try new thing with your family? Make Tsukimi dango with kids and enjoy watching the full moon in September. Then, you maybe can tell story about rabbits making rice cake in the moon?
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