Beside those who love the night sky

The wind sheds the few remaining leaves from the trees, and the cityscape transitions from late autumn to winter. At dusk, my heart flutters when I spot the planets and the moon behind the clean-cut silhouettes of the trees. As the air clears, the presence of the winter constellations and the moon becomes more apparent. I wonder, "How many shooting stars will I be able to see this year?" and recall the joys of winter, such as the Orionid meteor shower.

"Moon Calendar" is a book that gently accompanies my love of the night sky. This small calendar is published every autumn, and the 2025 edition is the 12th edition. I first picked up this book because the author is a friend of mine, but it has become an indispensable book for me.

You may wonder what's fun about buying a book about the moon every year, but you can learn about the phases of the moon as well as events for the year, such as lunar eclipses and supermoons, and everything except the basic illustrations and explanations is written from scratch, so even the avid fans who look forward to it won't get bored. This is the particularity of the author, Hiroko Nakano. She is a proofreader and editor by trade, and a musician, so I secretly respect her concise and poetic choice of words, even though she is my friend.

Ayumi Hanamatsu has been the artist in charge of the cover illustrations since the 2015 edition. She creates nostalgic print illustrations of scenes with the moon, which is always there when you look up. I recently saw her solo exhibition at "Moon and Biscuits" in Azumino, and was amazed by the balance of simplicity and design in the story-like landscapes.

The book's handy size, soft-touch washi-based paper, folding binding, beautiful illustrations, and gentle words are also a big attraction. The book's design is not just practical, but will add a touch of charm to your daily moon viewing.

Just imagining being under the sky with someone looking up at the moon and stars just like you, with a book in hand, is a heartening and joyful read.

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Text and photos by Fumika Arasawa designer Freelance ⇄ company employee, occasionally helping friends out. Moved to Matsumoto in 2024. Instagram: @fumika * Click here to purchase related products at rovakk musikk.

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Moon Calendar 2025 - Learn about the phases of the moon for 365 days

Artwork: Ayumi Hanamatsu
Format: book, soft cover
Product no: 9784416723630
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