Otsukimi (Moon-gazing)
by month
SEP
September
September 1, recalling the widespread destruction of Tokyo in the wake of a strong earthquake on that date in 1923, is “Disaster Prevention Day” (Bosai no Hi). On this day or soon before or after, schools, offices, and local communities hold “disaster-prevention” or “emergency” exercises. Elementary schools, for example, hold evacuation drills, in which the students don protective headgear (bosai zukin) and move to the specified evacuation points and parents or guardians come to pick them up as would be done in the case of a real emergency.
September through November is the season during which many schools hold their annual Culture Festival or School Festival.
The mid-autumn full moon, which occurs on the fifteenth day of the eighth month by the lunar calendar, usually falls in September by the solar calendar. It is considered the most beautiful moon of the year.
Festivals are held at local shrines, and local groups bring out portable shrines (mikoshi) and shrine floats (dashi) that are carried or circulated around the town to bring good fortune to the local community.
Depending on the year, there is a several-day-long holiday—known as “Silver Week”—extending from around the time of Respect for the Aged Day (3rd Monday) to the day of the Autumn Equinox (Shubun no Hi; around the 23rd).
Holidays: Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro no Hi; 3rd Monday), Autumn Equinox (Shubun no Hi; around the 23rd, depending on the year).
Related Sites
The Lives of Japanese Elementary School Students/Grade6 Class1/A Day/Events/November/Emergency drills
http://www.tjf.or.jp/shogakusei/6-1/donna/gyouji_e.htm
"Deai" Teacher Support Information/MiniEncyclopedia/School and Education/School Calendar/Culture festival/school festival
http://www.tjf.or.jp/deai/contents/teacher/mini_en/html/bunkasai.html