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Rokuyo Explained: Taian, Butsumetsu, and Japan's Six-Day Fortune Cycle

Rokuyo — the small "taian," "butsumetsu," and similar notations seen on Japanese calendar dates. Here's what each means and how the cycle works.

Sensho

Meaning "whoever acts first wins" — a day considered lucky in the morning and less lucky in the afternoon. Thought to be good for urgent matters.

Tomobiki

Written with characters meaning "pulling a friend along" — considered good for celebratory events but best avoided for funerals and other somber occasions. Because of this, some regions close crematoriums on Tomobiki days.

Senbu

Meaning "whoever acts first loses" — the opposite of Sensho, considered less lucky in the morning and more lucky in the afternoon.

Butsumetsu

Considered the most inauspicious day in the rokuyo cycle — the name implies "a day so unlucky even Buddha would perish" — many people avoid celebratory events like weddings on this day.

Taian

Considered the most auspicious day in the rokuyo cycle — the name means "greatly peaceful" — a favored day for weddings, marriage registration, moving, and starting new ventures.

Shakko

A day considered lucky only during a limited window around noon, and unlucky the rest of the time. The character for "red" in its name is also said to be a caution about fire and blades.

Origins and scientific basis of rokuyo

Rokuyo is believed to originate from a calendar concept introduced from China, with its meaning and naming evolving over time. It's a way of divining a day's fortune, not based on scientific evidence, but it remains widely considered a custom when choosing dates for weddings, funerals, and other life events.

Some people care about it, others don't

How much weight rokuyo carries varies widely based on wedding/funeral venue availability and regional or family attitudes. Some families choose dates around it out of consideration for older relatives who care, while others don't factor it in at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some calendars not show rokuyo at all?

Rokuyo isn't part of any official calendar system — it's a custom included on some calendars and planners, which is why many calendars simply don't display it.

Is there a rule against holding a funeral on Tomobiki?

It's not a legal rule, just a custom/superstition. That said, the practice of avoiding Tomobiki remains strong in some regions, and some crematoriums and funeral halls set their closing day to align with it.