Japanese Lunar Calendar

Japanese Lunar Calendar

The Japanese lunar calendar, more commonly know as the Chinese calendar, is based on the moon phases. Today it is not commonly used, because it does not dived evenly between the 12 lunar months. Today the Gregorian calendar is commonly used in Japan. Although terms are still commonly used from the Japanese lunar calendar, days of good and bad luck, and holidays associated with the lunar year.

The twelve animals of Japanese zodiac are:
Animal		Hiragana / Katakana	What year where you born in? Year of the Tiger?
Rat		Nezumi	1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924,
Ox		Ushi	1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925,
Tiger		Tora	1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926,
Rabbit		Usagi	1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927,
Dragon		Tatsu	2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928,
Snake		Hebi	2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929,
Horse		Uma	2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930,
Sheep		Hitsuji	2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931,
Monkey		Saru	2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932,
Rooster		Tori	2005, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921,
Dog		Inu	2006, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922,
Boar		Inoshishi	2007, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923,

The Japanese Lunar Calendar is Divided Into 24 Seasonal Distinctions:
Date (This is approximate)		Romaji	Meaning
January 5th		shokan	Moderate Cold
January 21st		taikan	Severe Cold
February 3rd / 4th		risshun	Spring Begins
February 19th		amamizu	Rain Water
March 6th		kaichitsu	Insects Awaken
March 21st		shunbun	Vernal Equinox
April 5th		seimyou	Pure Brightness
April 20th		kokuu	Grain Rain
May 6th		rikka	Summer Begins
May 21st		koumitsu	Grain Fills
June 6th		boushu	Awn Appears
June 21st		geshi	Summer Solstice
July 7th		shousho	Moderate Heat
July 23rd		daisho	Great Heat
August 8th		rishuu	Autumn Begins
August 23rd		shuubun	Heat Ends
September 8th		kanro	White Dew
September 23rd		shimo ori	Autumn Equinox
October 8th		ritou	Cold Dew
October 23rd		shousetsu	Frost Decends
November 7th		taisetsu	Winter Begins
November 22nd		touji	Light Snow
December 6th		shoukan	Heavy Snow
December 22nd		taikan	Winter Solstice

There is a new and old way to say the months. In modern Japan the English calendar can be seen quite commonly.
English	Modern japanese	Old Japanese
	Romaji	Romaji
January	ichigatsu	mutsuki
February	nigatsu	kisaragi
March	sangatsu	yayoi
April	shigatsu	uzuki
May	gogatsu	satsuki
June	rokugatsu	minatsuki
July	shichigatsu	fzuki
August	hachigatsu	hazuki
September	kyuugatsu	nagatsuki
October	juugatsu	kanazuki
November	juuichigatsu	shimotsuki
December	juunigatsu	shihasu

Source : www.japanlinked.com