Time to study

Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is 一月 (ichi-gatsu, literally "Month one"), February is 二月 (ni-gatsu, "Month two"), etc.

However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar to the French Revolutionary calendar).

June is “Minatsuki” in this old Japanese calendar.

水 = water

無 = none / not any

月 = month

無 means "not any", not "of".

So why doesn't this mean "the month with no water"?

According to wikipedia, this 無 is used purely as an ateji, which is a kanji used for its pronunciation rather than its meaning. 無 is pronounced "na", which sometimes has the same meaning as the possessive particle の ("no"), thus rendering the meaning something like "water's month".

In Japan, 春分 (shun-bun) spring equinox is a national holiday. The week which contains spring equinox is called “o-higan”. This has connections with Buddhism, and on this day many people visit spend time with their families and visit their family grave. 

This month we’re reading Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao! Join us for this read in Seitokai’s Discord!

On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see only a cosy ramen restaurant. And just the chosen ones – those who are lost – will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets.

Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as its new owner to find the pawnshop ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike other customers. For he offers help, instead of seeking it.

Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice – through rain puddles, hitching rides on paper cranes, across the bridge between midnight and morning and through a night market in the clouds.

But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own – and risk making a choice she will never be able to take back. 

The usual kanji for horse is 馬, so does this mean there are two ways of writing "horse"?

Kind of! Japan uses the Chinese Zodiac system in which each year is assigned one of 12 animals. When referring to these animals in the context of the Chinese Zodiac (and not as just regular animals), a different kanji is used.

If you're talking about a regular, ordinary, horse the kanji is 馬.

On the other hand, if you're talking about the Year of the Horse, the kanji is 午.

New Year's is the biggest festival in Japan. As a time for new beginnings, it is often observed by doing activities "for the first time in the new year".

The first calligraphy of the new year is called 書初め (kakizomé).

The kanji:

書 = writing (as in 書道 - Japanese calligraphy, or "the way of writing")

初 = first time

The above image is a 書初め (kakizomé) work that I did a while back when I was living in Japan.

Like most 書初め (kakizomé) works, it contains a reference to nature and a hope for the coming year.

The kanji are:

春 = spring

日 = day (or sun)

鳥 = bird

還 = return

飛 = fly

The Japanese year used to be divided into 72 "micro-seasons". These seasons were based on natural events such as the weather and the appearance of various plants and animals.

Next week is the start of 熊蟄穴.

The kanji:

熊 = bear

蟄 = hibernation

穴 = hole, den

= the time when bears start their winter sleep in their dens.