Japanese Months: Modern & Traditional Names Guide for Reading Japanese Calendar

If you're learning Japanese, you'll quickly discover that the Japanese calendar system takes a refreshingly straightforward approach to naming months. The modern system uses numbers plus the character 月 (gatsu), which means "month." But here's the thing: Japan also has a set of traditional month names called wafū getsumei that are poetic, seasonal, and packed with cultural meaning. In this guide, I'll walk you through both the modern numbering system and the traditional Japanese names, complete with kanji, hiragana, pronunciation guides, and the cultural context behind each month. You'll find everything you need here.

The modern Japanese calendar system

Japan officially adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1873, replacing the old lunisolar calendar that had been used for centuries. Today, when Japanese people talk about months, they use the modern system almost exclusively.

The structure is simple: you take a number (1-12) and add gatsu (月) after it. The character 月 literally means "moon" or "month," which makes sense given that months were originally based on lunar cycles.

Here's the complete list:

The pronunciation is straightforward once you know how to count in Japanese. You'll notice that April, July, and September have slight variations (shigatsu instead of yongatsu, shichigatsu instead of nanagatsu, and kugatsu instead of kyūgatsu). These variations make the words easier to pronounce and distinguish from each other in conversation.

How to count months in Japanese

When you want to count months as a duration (like "three months" or "six months"), you use a different counter: kagetsu (ヶ月 or か月). This is different from the name of the month itself.

For example:

The small ヶ character is actually a simplified form of an older kanji and indicates a counter. Some people write it in hiragana as か instead.

So if someone asks you "How many months have you been studying Japanese?" you'd answer with kagetsu, like "sankagetsu" (three months). But if they ask "What month is it?" you'd answer with gatsu, like "sangatsu" (March).

Traditional month names: The wafū getsumei

The traditional Japanese month names are beautiful, poetic, and deeply connected to nature and seasonal events. These names come from the old lunisolar Japanese calendar and reflect what was happening in nature or society during that time of year.

You'll still see these traditional names in formal documents, traditional ceremonies, poetry, and historical contexts. They're also popular in creative writing and when people want to evoke a more classical or elegant tone.

January: Mutsuki (睦月)

The kanji means "harmony" or "intimacy." This name reflects the tradition of families gathering together during the New Year celebrations. January was a time for people to come together, renew bonds, and celebrate the start of a new year.

In hiragana: むつき

February: Kisaragi (如月 or 衣更着)

This name has two possible kanji writings. The more common uses characters meaning "like" and "moon," while means "wearing more clothes." February is still cold in Japan, so the idea of layering clothes makes perfect sense. Some scholars think it refers to the practice of putting on additional layers during the lingering winter cold.

In hiragana: きさらぎ

March: Yayoi (弥生)

The kanji means "new growth" or "increasing life." March marks the beginning of spring in the traditional calendar, when plants start growing again and nature comes back to life. This is one of the most recognizable traditional names because it's also used as a given name in Japan.

In hiragana: やよい

April: Uzuki (卯月)

The character refers to the u-no-hana flower (deutzia), which blooms in April. This month celebrates the beautiful white flowers that appear during this season. Some sources also connect it to the fourth sign of the Chinese zodiac, the rabbit ().

In hiragana: うづき

May: Satsuki (皐月 or 五月)

Originally, satsuki referred to the fifth month in the old lunisolar calendar, which would fall around June in the Gregorian calendar. The name comes from (sanae-zuki), meaning "rice planting month." The kanji relates to rice paddies. May is when rice planting traditionally begins in Japan.

In hiragana: さつき

June: Minazuki (水無月)

This name is fascinating because it seems contradictory. The kanji literally means "month without water," but June is actually the rainy season (tsuyu) in Japan! The character here is actually an old possessive particle, so the name really means "month of water" rather than "month without water." It refers to the heavy rains that come during this period.

In hiragana: みなづき

July: Fumizuki (文月)

The character 文 means "writing" or "literature." One theory suggests this name comes from the tradition of writing poetry during the Tanabata festival on July 7th. Another theory connects it to the ripening of grain, using an older meaning of the character.

In hiragana: ふみづき

August: Hazuki (葉月)

The kanji means "leaf month." By August, tree leaves are at their fullest, thick and lush before they begin to turn in autumn. This name captures that peak moment of summer greenery.

In hiragana: はづき

September: Nagatsuki (長月)

The characters mean "long month." This refers to the lengthening nights as autumn deepens and days grow shorter. September marks the transition from summer to fall in the traditional calendar.

In hiragana: ながつき

October: Kannazuki (神無月)

This name means "month without gods" (). According to Shinto tradition, all the gods (kami) leave their shrines across Japan and gather at Izumo Taisha, a major shrine in Shimane Prefecture, for their annual meeting. Interestingly, in Izumo, October is called Kamiarizuki (), meaning "month with gods," because all the deities are visiting!

In hiragana: かんなづき

November: Shimotsuki (霜月)

The kanji means "frost month." November brings the first frosts of the year in many parts of Japan, marking the arrival of winter weather. The name perfectly captures this seasonal change.

In hiragana: しもつき

December: Shiwasu (師走)

The characters mean "teachers run." This colorful name supposedly comes from the idea that even Buddhist monks and teachers, normally calm and composed, become busy running around to complete year-end tasks and preparations for the New Year. December remains the busiest month of the year in Japan.

In hiragana: しわす

Why both systems exist

You might wonder why Japan keeps both the simple numbered system and the complex traditional names. The numbered system (ichigatsu, nigatsu, etc.) handles all practical, everyday communication. When someone asks what month it is or when your birthday is, you use the numbered months.

The traditional names (mutsuki, kisaragi, etc.) serve a different purpose. They connect modern Japanese people to their cultural heritage and literary tradition. They appear in classical poetry, historical texts, and formal ceremonies. Using them adds elegance and cultural depth to writing.

Think of it like how English speakers might say "autumn" in poetry but "fall" in conversation, or how we have both "Christmas" and "Yuletide." The traditional month names give Japanese writers and speakers a richer vocabulary for expressing seasonal feelings and cultural connections.

Pronunciation tips for Japanese months

Getting the pronunciation right takes practice, but here are some tips that'll help you sound more natural:

Writing Japanese months: Kanji, hiragana, and romaji

When you learn Japanese, you'll encounter three writing systems: kanji (Chinese characters), hiragana (phonetic script), and romaji (romanization). For months, you'll see all three used in different contexts.

For the traditional month names, many Japanese people would actually need to look up the kanji because they're used so rarely in daily life. You'll often see the traditional names written in hiragana instead.

The Japanese calendar in context

Understanding how Japan formats dates helps you use month names correctly. The Japanese date format follows the year-month-day order, which is the opposite of the American month-day-year format.

For example, March 15, 2025 would be written:

The character means "year" and means "day."

Japan also uses its own era system alongside the Gregorian calendar. The current era is Reiwa (令和), which started in 2019 when Emperor Naruhito ascended to the throne. So 2026 is also Reiwa 8. You'll see both systems used on official documents.

Common phrases using month vocabulary

Once you know the months, you can use them in practical sentences:

The particle に (ni) marks the time when something happens, so you'll use it after month names when talking about when events occur.

Seasons and their connection to months

The Japanese calendar divides the year into four seasons (), and each season has strong cultural associations with specific months:

These seasonal divisions influence everything from food to clothing to greetings. The traditional month names reflect this deep connection to seasonal changes, with references to plants, weather, and agricultural activities throughout the year.

Japan also recognizes 24 solar terms () inherited from the Chinese calendar. These mark smaller seasonal transitions, like the start of spring () around February 4th or the summer solstice () around June 21st.

Learning Japanese months effectively

When I was learning Japanese months, I found that connecting them to actual events helped me remember them better. Instead of just memorizing "shigatsu equals April," I'd think "shigatsu is when the school year starts in Japan" or "rokugatsu is rainy season."

Making flashcards with the kanji on one side and the pronunciation plus meaning on the other works well. Start with the modern month names since you'll use those way more often than the traditional ones.

Try changing your phone or computer calendar to Japanese. You'll see the months written in kanji every time you check the date, which gives you constant, natural exposure.

Reading Japanese content that includes dates helps too. News articles, blog posts, and social media posts from Japanese users will have dates written in the standard format, giving you real-world practice.

If you want to actually practice reading Japanese months in real contexts, Migaku's tool lets you look up words and kanji instantly while reading Japanese websites, news articles, or social media. You can see how dates are formatted naturally and build your vocabulary through actual content. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

FAQs

Learn Japanese culture related to the months of the year

Learning the months in Japanese gives you a solid foundation for talking about time, making plans, and understanding Japanese culture. The modern system with gatsu is what you'll use 99% of the time, but knowing the traditional wafū getsumei names gives you deeper insight into Japanese culture, literature, and the way Japanese people have historically connected with the changing seasons. Watching more Japanese media can help you understand more traditional celebrations and culture related to different months of the year as well!

Mark the time, and reconnect with traditions and nature!