| Japanese Lunar Calendar |
The Japanese lunar calendar, more commonly know as the Chinese calendar, is based on the moon phases. Today it is not commonly used, because it does not dived evenly between the 12 lunar months. Today the Gregorian calendar is commonly used in Japan. Although terms are still commonly used from the Japanese lunar calendar, days of good and bad luck, and holidays associated with the lunar year. |
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| Japanese Zodiac |
The twelve animals of Japanese zodiac are: |
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| Animal | Japanese | Hiragana / Katakana | What year where you born in? Year of the Tiger? |
Rat |
ネズミ | Nezumi | 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, |
| Ox | うし | Ushi | 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, |
| Tiger | トラ | Tora | 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, |
| Rabbit | うさぎ | Usagi | 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, |
| Dragon | たつ | Tatsu | 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, |
| Snake | へび | Hebi | 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, |
| Horse | うま | Uma | 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, |
| Sheep | ひつじ | Hitsuji | 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, |
| Monkey | さる | Saru | 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, |
| Rooster | とり | Tori | 2005, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, |
| Dog | いぬ | Inu | 2006, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, |
| Boar | いのしし | Inoshishi | 2007, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, |
| Japanese Seasons |
The Japanese Lunar Calendar is divided into 24 seasonal distinctions: |
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| Date (This is approximate) | Hiragana / Katakana | Romaji | Meaning |
| January 5th | しょかん | shokan | Moderate Cold |
January 21st |
たいかん | taikan | Severe Cold |
| February 3rd / 4th | りっしゅん | risshun | Spring Begins (setusbun) |
| February 19th | あまみず | amamizu | Rain Water |
| March 6th | かいちつ | kaichitsu | Insects Awaken |
| March 21st | しゅんぶん | shunbun | Vernal Equinox |
| April 5th | せいみょう | seimyou | Pure Brightness |
| April 20th | こくう | kokuu | Grain Rain |
| May 6th | りっか | rikka | Summer Begins |
May 21st |
こうみつ | koumitsu | Grain Fills |
| June 6th | ぼうしゅ | boushu | Awn Appears |
| June 21st | げし | geshi | Summer Solstice |
| July 7th | しょうしょ | shousho | Moderate Heat |
| July 23rd | だいしょ | daisho | Great Heat |
| August 8th | りしゅう | rishuu |
Autumn Begins |
| August 23rd | しゅうぶん | shuubun | Heat Ends |
| September 8th | かんろ | kanro | White Dew |
| September 23rd | しも おり | shimo ori | Autumn Equinox |
| October 8th | りとう | ritou | Cold Dew |
| October 23rd | しょうせつ | shousetsu | Frost Decends |
| November 7th | たいせつ | taisetsu | Winter Begins |
| November 22nd | とうじ | touji | Light Snow |
| December 6th | しょうかん | shoukan | Heavy Snow |
| December 22nd | たいかん | taikan | Winter Solstice |
| The Japanese Months |
| There is a new and old way to say the months. In modern Japan the English calendar can be seen quite commonly. | ||||||
| English | Modern Japanese | Old Japanese | ||||
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | |
| January | 一月 | いちがつ | ichigatsu | 睦月 | むつき |
mutsuki |
| February | 二月 | にがつ | nigatsu | 如月 | きさらぎ | kisaragi |
| March | 三月 | さんがつ | sangatsu | 弥生 | やよい | yayoi |
| April | 四月 | しがつ | shigatsu | 卯月 | うづき | uzuki |
May |
五月 | ごがつ | gogatsu | 皐月 | さつき | satsuki |
| June | 六月 | ろくがつ | rokugatsu | 水無月 | みなつき | minatsuki |
| July | 七月 | しちがつ | shichigatsu | 文月 | ふづき | fzuki |
August |
八月 | はちがつ | hachigatsu | 葉月 | はづき | hazuki |
| September | 九月 | きゅがつ | kyuugatsu | 長月 | ながつき | nagatsuki |
| October | 十月 | じゅうがつ | juugatsu | 神無月 | かなづき | kanazuki |
| November | 十一月 | じゅういちがつ | juuichigatsu | 霜月 | しもつき | shimotsuki |
| December | 十二月 | じゅうにがつ | juunigatsu | 師走 | しはす | shihasu |
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