The largest one-day Japanese cultural celebration in North Texas is returning to Frisco Nov. 20. On Monday, The Japan-America Society of Dallas Fort Worth and the Crow Museum of Asian Art at the University of Texas at Dallas jointly announced the return of the Otsukimi Moon Viewing Festival. It will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 20 at Simpson Plaza at Frisco Square
Pronounced “Oat-Sue-Kee-Mee,” the family-friendly festival celebrates the autumn or “harvest” moon. This will be the festival’s twenty-second year in North Texas. It will feature live music, food, art-making and other cultural offerings. Among the craft activities scheduled are origami, a moon rabbit ears creation activity, and Japanese calligraphy. Vendors will be selling Japanese festival food and beverages as well as collectibles. There will also be a traditional tea ceremony demonstration and haiku readings.
The moon viewing custom is thought to have originated with Japanese aristocrats during the Heian period (794 to 1185 A.D). They would gather to recite poetry when the relative positions of the earth, sun, and moon caused the moon to appear especially bright. Visitors to this year’s event will be able to look at the night sky and the moon through telescopes available at the festival grounds.
