Otsukimi means enjoying the view of the moon. However, it also refers to the night of August 15th (Jugoya) on the old Japanese calendar. The Jugoya moon is called the harvest moon and has long been known as a good time for admiring the moon. On this night, an altar is set up in a place where the moon is visible and offerings of dumplings, pampas grass, and potatoes are made. The custom of viewing the harvest moon came to the nobility of Japan from China during the Heian period and also spread to samurai and townspeople. Farmers knew the farming seasons through the waxing and waning of the moon. They were able to work in the fields until late at night thanks to the moonlight. The custom of Otsukimi took root out of gratitude to the moon. As a result, crops harvested during this period came to be associated with Imomeigetsu (the potato harvest festival) as well.