sixth month of the lunar calendar
Obsolete term for the sixth month of the old lunar calendar, roughly corresponding to July in the modern calendar.
The old lunar calendar's Minazuki corresponds to July in the modern calendar.
Poetic or traditional name for June in the modern Gregorian calendar. Often used in literary contexts, haiku, or seasonal greetings.
In this month of June, I hope you are all doing well.
June has arrived, bringing the rainy season.
Minazuki sweet; triangular rice jelly with adzuki beans
A traditional sweet made of triangular rice jelly topped with adzuki beans, eaten in June to ward off evil and pray for health.
There is a custom of eating Minazuki sweets during the Nagoshi no Harae purification ritual.
I bought some Minazuki sweets at the Japanese confectionery shop and went home.
summer purification rites
Standard kanji spelling for the traditional month name and the sweet.
Kana spelling is common in modern contexts, especially for the sweet.
The origin is disputed. A leading explanation treats な as an old genitive particle, giving “month of water,” traditionally associated with supplying water to rice fields; interpretations of 無 as “without” are also found.