As October arrives, the temperature difference between mornings, evenings, and daytime becomes more noticeable, and the air starts to become drier.
October is traditionally known as Kannazuki (神無月). Autumn festivals are held throughout Japan to give thanks to the gods for a bountiful harvest.
It is also the season for koromogae (衣替え), the traditional seasonal change of clothing. People gradually switch to their autumn and winter wardrobes, and jackets and other outerwear start to become necessary.
Around October 8 is Kanro (寒露), one of Japan’s traditional seasonal divisions. It marks the time when the morning dew on plants begins to feel cold. It is also a great season for fish such as Pacific saury and mackerel. At the Meguro Residents’ Festival, grilled Pacific saury is served to visitors.
Around October 24 is Sōkō (霜降), the season when morning dew begins to turn into frost. It is a wonderful time to enjoy autumn foods such as persimmons and maitake mushrooms.
Every year, many Japanese companies hold their naitei-shiki (内定式), or job offer ceremonies, on October 1 for university students who are scheduled to join the company the following spring.
In Japan, companies traditionally bring together students who have received official job offers and hold a ceremony to welcome and celebrate them. In recent years, more companies have been trying creative ways to build stronger relationships with their future employees and discourage them from declining their job offers. These include social events at cruising restaurants and opportunities to talk directly with company presidents.
October is also a common month for people changing jobs to start at their new companies. One reason is that some employees receive their summer bonuses before beginning their job search and moving to a new employer.
The changing seasons can also make it easier to become unwell, and influenza often spreads around this time of year. Be sure to take care of your health.
Autumn Festivals
Autumn is also a season filled with festivals across Japan.
At Nagasaki Kunchi, held from October 7 to 9, traditional dedication performances such as the famous dragon dance are presented.
The Kawagoe Festival, held from October 17 to 18, features magnificent dashi (山車) festival floats topped with elaborate dolls parading through the streets. One of its highlights is Hikkawase (曳っかわせ), in which floats face each other and their musicians compete through traditional festival music.
Kyoto’s Jidai Matsuri, or Festival of the Ages, takes place on October 22. Around 2,000 participants dressed in costumes representing different periods of Japanese history, from the Heian period to the Meiji Restoration, parade through the city, creating a scene that looks like a historical picture scroll brought to life.
Also on October 22, the Kurama Fire Festival is held as the annual festival of Yuki Shrine. Participants light large and small taimatsu (松明) torches and carry them along the Kurama road at night, creating one of Japan’s most distinctive traditional festivals.
In recent years, Halloween on October 31 has become popular among young people who enjoy cosplay. Regulations have become stricter in busy entertainment districts such as Shibuya and Shinjuku, and it has become much less common to see large numbers of people in costume on the streets. Recently, more Halloween events have been held inside theme parks and other designated venues.
In Ikebukuro, the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival is held for cosplay fans.
October is a wonderful time to enjoy festivals and seasonal autumn foods. At the same time, the changing temperatures can make it easier to get sick, so prepare your autumn and winter clothes early and be careful of the temperature differences between day and night.
The JETRO Online Job Fair will also be held from October 13 to 16, with 154 companies scheduled to participate. If you are looking for career opportunities in Japan, it may be well worth joining.
By Hajime Saito
X: @hajimesaitoYJC
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