Otsukimi Moon Viewing Party

We hold our annual Otsukimi moon-viewing party on the the full harvest moon each October, held at the Gardens at Lake Merritt. We have been holding these parties, which feature traditional Japanese entertainment, authentic Obento dinners, and astronomers with powerful telescopes, since 1965.  (See the attachment at the bottom of the page of a newspaper article about our 1984 Otsukimi.) The harvest moon is a symbol of blessing and abundance for many cultures, including Japan. Similar to tea paraties, the moon viewing parties are occasions for for sharing food and stories, while enjoying what is considered the most beautiful moon of the year.   45th Annual Otsukimi Moon Viewing Party & Silent Auction Sunday, October 9, 2011 from 5:30-8:00 pm Lakeside Park Garden Center 666 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA   5:30 pm Bento Dinner & Bonsai Garden Viewing Open House hosted by the GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt Japanese Bento box dinners created by Musashi of Berkeley. Sushi & skewered meats & fish, with vegetarian Bentos available upon request. $15.* Come see our magnificent Torii Gate, dedicated to the memory of late Oakland Council member Frank Ogawa Silent auction with the following items: Amoeba Music ~ $100 gift certificate Hudson Oakland ~ $50 gift certificate Oakland Zoo ~ family 4-pack, plus free parking Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco ~ four VIP general admission guest passes to the Legion of Honor or the de Young Lake Merritt Boating Center ~ 5 free boat rentals (canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddle boats or sailboats) Oakland A's ~ Hideki Matsui T-shirt California Revels ~ Two tickets to the 26th Annual Christmas Revels, Main Floor or Center Dress Circle Grand Lake Theater ~ Four movie tickets Pappo ~ Two Brunch Entrees Hiroshima ~ autographed Legacy CD J. Miller Flowers ~ special arrangement 3 hours of plant pruning by landscape designer Peter Bowyer Six 3-hour "Hand Building with Clay" classes at Christina's Creations in Richmond Special Calligraphy by Rev. Masato Kawahatsu (three pieces available) Photograph by Joanne Devereaux Photography Montclair Physical Therapy & Wellness ~ Pilates Session Montclair Physical Therapy & Wellness ~ Personal Training Session Montclair Physical Therapy & Wellness ~ 30-minute massage Montclair Physical Therapy & Wellness ~ 1-month membership Set of four sake cups ~ donated by Becky Taylor 6:30 pm Entertainment Ensohza, traditional Japanese folk dancing  Jiten Taiko, traditional Japanese drums Performance by our Oakland delegates to the Asian Pacific Children's Convention 7:30 pm Moon Viewing Telescopic viewing of the moon and other celestial points of interest provided by the East Bay Astronomical Society View our photo album of our Otsukimi Moon Viewing Parties.