Traditional Japanese month names turn the calendar into a small lesson in Japanese culture. Alongside familiar names such as 1月,2月,3月… you may see poetic words like 睦月, 如月, 弥生, and 師走. How do you read them, and when should you use them?
This guide introduces all 12 names, explains four memorable examples, and shows you how to recognize them in context. You do not need to memorize every kanji before you begin—start with the name connected to your birthday month!
Level: Beginner-friendly cultural reading. Suitable for learners comfortable with basic N5–N4 sentences. The traditional names are enrichment vocabulary, not an official JLPT level list.
Reading tip: Use the Furigana switch above to show or hide the readings over kanji.
Traditional Japanese Month Names at a Glance
These names are called 和風月名 (wafū getsumei). The table shows their familiar modern month pairings; historically, they named months in the old calendar.
| Modern pairing | Traditional name | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| January | 睦月 | mutsuki |
| February | 如月 | kisaragi |
| March | 弥生 | yayoi |
| April | 卯月 | uzuki |
| May | 皐月 | satsuki |
| June | 水無月 | minazuki |
| July | 文月 | fumizuki |
| August | 葉月 | hazuki |
| September | 長月 | nagatsuki |
| October | 神無月 | kannazuki |
| November | 霜月 | shimotsuki |
| December | 師走 | shiwasu |
The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan’s month-name table also lists variants, including ふづき for 文月 and かみなづき for 神無月. Learn one common reading first.
1. Why the Old Calendar Matters
These names originally belonged to Japan’s lunisolar calendar, which combined lunar months with adjustments to keep track of the solar year. It is often called the 旧暦 (kyūreki), or “old calendar.”
The old first month did not begin on January 1 of today’s calendar. The National Astronomical Observatory explains that the seasonal timing differs by roughly a month on average. This is why some names seem surprising when you match them directly to modern months.
Think “traditional month number,” not “an exact modern date range.” The table is useful for reading modern calendars, but it is not a historical date converter.
2. 睦月 (Mutsuki): A Name for January
睦月 names the first month. A common explanation connects it with relatives coming together in friendship at New Year. The kanji 睦 suggests harmony or closeness. This is one traditional account, rather than a proven origin.
To remember it, picture a New Year gathering. You can connect the unfamiliar spelling 睦月 with the familiar first month, without trying to read each kanji separately.
一月の別名は「睦月」です。
→ Another name for January is “Mutsuki.”
3. 如月 (Kisaragi): A Name for February
如月 names the second month. A popular explanation links the sound to 衣更着: putting on extra clothing because it is still cold. However, the origin is uncertain; the kanji 如月 do not literally mean “extra clothes.”
Treat きさらぎ as a complete reading. Guessing from the individual characters is unlikely to help. An extra scarf or jacket makes a useful memory image, as long as you remember that the story is an explanation, not a literal translation.
「如月」は「きさらぎ」と読みます。
→ 如月 is read “kisaragi.”
4. 弥生 (Yayoi): A Name for March
弥生 names the third month. Its traditional explanation evokes plants growing ever more abundantly. This gives the name a strong spring association.
The reading is やよい, not a combination you need to work out from ordinary kanji readings. Try saying や・よ・い slowly, then naturally as one word.
三月は「弥生」とも呼ばれます。
→ March is also called “Yayoi.”
For background on these explanations and their uncertainties, see the library reference on traditional month-name origins and the National Diet Library’s overview.
5. 師走 (Shiwasu): A Name for December
師走 names the twelfth month. The familiar story imagines even teachers or masters hurrying around at year’s end: 師 suggests a teacher or master, and 走 means “run.” It is a traditional explanation, not an established etymology.
Unlike many of the other names, 師走 has no 月 character. Learn the whole word as しわす. It is especially useful for recognizing references to the busy end of the year. The library reference notes that several accounts of its origin exist.
もう師走ですね。
→ It’s already December, isn’t it?
師走は忙しいです。
→ December is busy.
6. Seasonal Clues in the Other Eight Names
Several names offer memorable seasonal images. Common explanations connect 卯月 with deutzia blossoms, 皐月 with rice planting, 葉月 with falling leaves, 長月 with long nights, and 霜月 with frost.
水無月 is often explained as “month of water,” with な functioning like の, rather than simply “no water.” 文月 has multiple explanations, including ripening rice. 神無月 is associated with both a “month of the gods” explanation and the story of gods gathering in Izumo.
These are representative accounts from the National Diet Library, which emphasizes that origins vary. Use the images as memory aids, and avoid treating every kanji as a literal translation.
7. When Should You Use Traditional Month Names?
For everyday plans, birthdays, bookings, and appointments, use the standard numbered months: 一月, 二月, 三月, and so on. Traditional names are most useful to recognize in calendars, seasonal writing, and cultural contexts.
私の誕生日は二月です。
→ My birthday is in February.
This is the straightforward everyday choice. You do not need to replace 二月 with 如月 to sound more natural.
このカレンダーには「霜月」と書いてあります。
→ This calendar says “Shimotsuki.”
A useful question: When you meet an unfamiliar name, ask which month it refers to.
「睦月」は何月ですか。
→ Which month is “Mutsuki”?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Reading every 月 as がつ. In these names, it can be つき or づき, and some whole-word readings are less predictable. Learn the kana together with the name.
Mixing up むつき and みなづき. 睦月 is the first month; 水無月 is the sixth. Try pairing each with its number when you practise.
Expecting the seasons to match today’s calendar exactly. A name inherited from an old-calendar month is not a weather forecast for its modern counterpart.
Presenting an origin story as certain history. Phrases such as “one explanation is…” are more accurate, especially for 如月 and 師走.
Using poetic names for every appointment. Numbered months are clearer for routine dates. Recognizing the traditional names is valuable even if you rarely say them.
Mini Quiz: Can You Match the Months?
1. Which reading matches 睦月?
A. むつき B. みなづき
2. Which name is paired with February?
A. 弥生 B. 如月
3. How do you read 師走?
A. しそう B. しわす
4. Is the old first month exactly the same date range as modern January?
A. Yes B. No
5. Which is the straightforward everyday way to say “in March”?
A. 三月に B. 弥生に
Answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 B, 4 B, 5 A.
For an extra challenge, hide the furigana and read 睦月・如月・弥生・師走 aloud. Then find your birthday month in the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are traditional Japanese month names called?
They are called 和風月名 (わふうげつめい, wafū getsumei). They include 睦月, 如月, 弥生, and 師走.
Are these the normal Japanese words for January to December?
They are traditional alternatives. In everyday conversation, learn the numbered forms first, such as 一月 (いちがつ) for January and 十二月 (じゅうにがつ) for December.
Why does 如月 have the reading きさらぎ?
It is an established whole-word reading. The familiar extra-clothing story helps with memorization, but the name’s historical origin is uncertain.
Does 師走 literally mean “teachers run”?
That is a popular explanation based on its written characters. It should not be treated as a proven account of how the word began.
Do I need to memorize all 12 names immediately?
No. Start with your birthday month and the four names in this guide. Learn to recognize the spelling and reading together, then add the others gradually.
Try Reading Your Birthday Month in Japanese
Choose one name from the table and write a small flashcard: the kanji on one side, the reading and month on the other. Then practise the question 「〇〇」は何月ですか。 (“Which month is ___?”).
You can also use 読んでみます—“I’ll try reading it.” Explore our guide to saying “try” in Japanese, or practise speaking with a teacher through NihongoNana’s Japanese lessons.
