A Love Letter Named the Moon: From The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter to Soseki, and toward Tsukiyomi-no-miya

Image Credit: NASA (Lunar surface images sourced from the NASA public archive)

January 3, 2026. Shortly after the dawn of the new year, a full moon known as the "Wolf Moon" rose in the sky. This pure light must have illuminated the night for everyone, no matter where in the world they were standing at that very moment. Bathed in the glow of this full moon, we have taken a new step forward. Today, I would like to talk about the "emotional distance"—beautiful and subtle—that Japanese people have long maintained toward the moon.

The Dawn of Japanese Literature: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori Monogatari), regarded as Japan's oldest narrative, was born in the early Heian period (late 9th to early 10th century). While previous literature consisted of records of myths and history, this story was a revolutionary work that gave Japan its first wings of "fiction." It is the maternal light of Japanese literature, later praised in The Tale of Genji as the "ancestor of all romances."

n this story, the Moon, where Princess Kaguya eventually returns, is depicted as a "Pure World," free from all worry and defilement. However, on Earth, she came to know human "love" and "pain." At the end of the tale, the moment a celestial messenger places the "Heavenly Feather Robe" upon her, all her earthly memories and lingering attachments are erased. By forgetting everything and being "purified," she returns once more to a state of innocence—a poignant yet noble philosophy already inscribed in a story from 1,100 years ago.

Thoughts Residing in Silence

There is a famous anecdote in Japan concerning the great novelist Soseki Natsume. It is said that while he was an English teacher, he suggested that the phrase "I love you" should be translated as "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" Whether this story is factually true or not, the fact that it has been so long loved and passed down seems to symbolize the unique Japanese sensibility.

Rather than putting love into direct words, one entrusts their feelings to the "shared space" of gazing at the same moon. I cannot help but feel that this connects to the passion of the Emperor in the tale; when Princess Kaguya left him the "Elixir of Immortality," he burned it upon a mountain, feeling that eternal life had no meaning in a world where she was gone.

Modern Eyes and the "Guardian of the Moon" in Ise

Occasionally, I gaze at the latest lunar images released by space agencies like NASA. The moon captured by advanced technology is profoundly silent, revealing its true, raw form. Looking at those vivid craters, I fall into the illusion that "that moon" which Princess Kaguya yearned for 1,100 years ago is right before my eyes.

No matter how much science evolves, the "wonder at beauty" we feel when looking up at the moon remains unchanged from that of the people in the Heian period. That is why, even with the knowledge of the moon’s appearance through modern high-definition imagery, I choose to travel to a "physical sanctuary" to experience it.

I am currently preparing for a business trip to Ise. There lies a serene sanctuary called Tsukiyomi-no-miya, a sub-shrine of the Grand Shrine of Ise dedicated to the deity of the moon. The enshrined deity, Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto, governs the world of night and is the god of "Time and the Calendar," measured by the waxing and waning of the moon. To read the phases of the moon is to read time, and perhaps, to read the human heart. By knowing the moon through the eyes of science and feeling its presence in the sacred forest, we truly become a part of the universe.

Sharing This Moment

Just as it was with the full moon on January 3rd, no matter how much physical distance separates us, we can look up at the same moon and share its brilliance. To everyone who visits this blog:

Instead of using a multitude of words, I wish to simply share the quiet afterglow of that full moon with you. It is my utmost sign of respect and gratitude for the fact that we can share this moment together across time and space.

I hope that in 2026, our connections will continue quietly and with certain warmth, like the moonlight illuminating the forest of Tsukiyomi-no-miya.

Open the Next Door

#NewYear2026 #FullMoon #JapaneseCulture #SosekiNatsume #NASA #Tsukiyomi #Mindfulness #Connectivity