What is Rokuyo 六曜?

Often seen on Japanese calendars and planners, "Rokuyo” (六曜) is a type of traditional calendar annotation used to determine the fortune of each day. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Chinese divination, and it has been refined over a long history to become a unique part of Japanese culture.

Rokuyo consists of six "days": Sensho (先勝), Tomobiki (友引), Senbu (先負), Butsumetsu (仏滅), Taian (大安), and Shakko (赤口). This six-day cycle is overlaid onto the Gregorian calendar, functioning like a "fortune forecast" that provides guidance on daily activities.

In modern times, Rokuyo (六曜) is used less for strict personal fortune-telling and more as a deeply rooted cultural custom for scheduling major life events. It is still widely referenced when deciding on dates for weddings, funerals, business openings, and even moving house. It is essential to note that Rokuyo (六曜) is not tied to a specific religion and should be used with respect for individual situations and beliefs.

The Meaning of Each Rokuyo Day

1. Sensho (先勝): Good fortune in the morning.

This day means "to win if one acts first," suggesting that swift action will lead to victory. It is considered the third luckiest day after Taian (大安) and Tomobiki (友引).
Fortune varies by the time of day: the morning (until 2 PM) is lucky (吉), while the afternoon (2 PM to 6 PM) is unlucky (凶). It is wise to handle important matters like lawsuits, contracts, or business negotiations in the morning.
It is also a preferred day for competitions, as it contains the character for "win"(勝).

2. Tomobiki (友引): A day for celebrations, but avoided for funerals.

Originally meaning a "draw" where no winner could be decided, its interpretation evolved to mean "pulling in friends".
It is now considered a very auspicious day for weddings, symbolizing the sharing of happiness with friends.
Conversely, it is avoided for funerals, as it is associated with the idea of pulling friends toward the deceased.
The morning and evening are lucky, but the middle of the day (11 AM to 1 PM) is unlucky (凶).

3. Senbu (先負): Good fortune in the afternoon.

As the opposite of Sensho (先勝), this day means "to lose if one acts first". It is a day for acting calmly and without haste.
The morning is unlucky (凶), while the afternoon is lucky (吉). However, the afternoon luck is considered minor "small luck” (小吉).
Because the character for "lose" (負) is in its name, it is considered unsuitable for competitions, lawsuits, or important contracts.

4. Butsumetsu (仏滅): The unluckiest day, but ideal for a fresh start.

Originally written as "物滅" (the destruction of things), its name changed to mean "the day Buddha died," and it is now considered the most inauspicious day of the cycle.
The entire day is unlucky (凶), and celebrations are strongly avoided.
However, a modern interpretation sees it as a day of "destruction and rebirth," where old things end to make way for the new. This makes it suitable for breaking off negative ties and seeking a fresh start. Funerals and memorial services are considered acceptable.

5. Taian (大安): The luckiest day for all endeavors.

Meaning "great peace," this is the most auspicious day in the Rokuyo cycle, with good fortune lasting all day long.
It is considered perfect for any and all positive events, including weddings, business openings, signing contracts, and moving house.

6. Shakko (赤口): An unlucky day, with caution advised.

This is the second most unlucky day after Butsumetsu (仏滅). It is associated with a malevolent deity and is generally avoided for celebrations.
The "赤" (red) character is linked to fire and blood, so special caution with fire and sharp objects is advised.
The entire day is generally unlucky, except for a brief period of good fortune around noon (11 AM to 1 PM).