秋風に

たなびく雲の

絶え間より

もれ出づる月の

影のさやけさ

さきょうのだいぶあきすけ

あきかぜに

たなびくくもの

たえまより

もれいずるつきの

かげのさやけさ

Fujiwara no Akisuke

Through the gaps

In the clouds

Driven by autumn winds

The brightness of the moonlight

Now asserts itself.

Fujiwara no Akisuke (1090 - 1155), was Sakyo no Daibu (Master of the Western Capital). He was the father of Kiyosuke (poem 84). He compiled, at the request of emperor Sutoku (poem 77), the Shika Wakashu, and was a leading member of the Rokujo family school of poetry (conservative in style) founded by Fujiwara no Akisue. He has many poems in imperial collections.

作者略伝と語釈

Through a break in the clouds on Hokusai’s drawing the light of the full moon allows people to work late at night. They are pounding rice to make mochi, rice cakes. A priest and his attendant are admiring the full moon. Mochitsuki means ‘pounding mochi’ but also ‘full moon’.

Making mochi for New Year is a ceremonial event, and the legend of the mochi rabbit on the moon is still told to children.

Hokusai