Traditional Japanese Month

Traditional Japanese months, before adopting the Gregorian calendar, were named based on natural phenomena, agricultural activities, or seasonal changes. These names were:

1. Mutsuki (睦月) - "Month of Harmony"
2. Kisaragi or Kinusaragi (如月 or 衣更着) - "Month of Changing Clothes"
3. Yayoi (弥生) - "Month of New Life"
4. Uzuki (卯月) - "Month of the Utsugi (Deutzia) Flower"
5. Satsuki (皐月) - "Month of Rice Seedlings"
6. Minazuki (水無月) - "Month of Water"
7. Fumizuki (文月) - "Month of Letters/Books"
8. Hazuki (葉月) - "Month of Leaves"
9. Nagatsuki (長月) - "Month of Longing"
10. Kannazuki or Kaminazuki (神無月) - "Month of No Gods" or "Month with Gods" (depending on the region)
11. Shimotsuki (霜月) - "Month of Frost"
12. Shiwasu (師走) - "Month of Running Monks"

These names reflect the close relationship between the traditional Japanese calendar and the natural and agrarian rhythms of the country. However, these month names are now mostly used in poetry and other traditional contexts, with the modern Japanese calendar using numerical months similar to the Gregorian calendar.