While we complain of heat, August begins tomorrow—Hassaku. August 1 is also Fireworks Day, World Breastfeeding Day, Pie Day, Mahjong Day and Pineapple Day, but fruit lovers think hassaku.
Hassaku is the eighth month's first day—the lunar new moon, roughly August 30–September 1 today.
The citrus ripens toward autumn from around September, giving the fruit its name.
Also called "Tanomi no sekku"—farmers prayed to the field god before harvest.
With the 210th and 220th days it is an unlucky weather day; typhoons often come, yet the name also means praying for the crop.
In the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Tokugawa Ieyasu entered Edo Castle on lunar August 1, 1590 (Aug 30 new calendar). From then, on this day
hatamoto, gokenin and daimyo in white kataginu and long hakama offered congratulations to the shogun.
Yoshiwara courtesans later paraded in white bridal dress—Edo's talk of the town. (main illustration: Yoshiwara on Hassaku and Edo Castle after Ieyasu's entry.
In the old calendar, breezy September suited white kimono; on today's Hassaku, heat wins.