Whether it’s Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos, Guatemala’s Kite Festival, or the multinational Christian holiday of All Saint’s Day, many countries and cultures have holidays and festivals dedicated to reverencing, celebrating, and remembering those who have come before. Japan’s version of this celebration, a summer festival called Obon, provides an opportunity for millions of Japanese people to come together as families and communities to pay respect to and better connect with their ancestors through home traditions, public celebrations, and religious ceremonies. Here we will explore both the history of Obon and how it is currently celebrated, in hopes families everywhere can integrate these practices into their own traditions.
The History of Obon
The history of Obon is closely tied to the history of Japan itself. The earliest form was a folk tradition where spirits were believed to visit their living descendants on earth twice a year, in spring and autumn. After Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the 6th century AD, Obon took inspiration from a Buddhist tale of a disciple who made offerings to monks to secure the release of his deceased mother from eternal suffering. At the sight of his mother’s liberation, the disciple of Buddha danced with joy. This story became a prime example of filial piety within Buddhist sects, and gave way to the Ghost Festival in China, similar iterations in parts of central and Southern Asia, and the Obon festival in Japan.
Obon Festival: A Modern Celebration
Rather than a singular holiday, Obon is a celebration spread across multiple days with varying start dates. It traditionally began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the Lunar calendar, but with Japan’s adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1873, most of the country transitioned to celebrating it yearly in mid-August. Okinawa and parts of the Amami islands continue to celebrate it according to the Lunar calendar, while Tokyo and other urban areas celebrate it in mid-July instead. Internationally, festivals are held all throughout the summer, from June through August. Traditions differ by family and region, but several key elements can be found throughout the country. Let’s further explore these below!
The Welcoming Fire: Mukaebi
After families have gathered together, usually in the ancestral homeland near their family cemetery or as documented in their koseki, the festivities begin with welcoming one's ancestors to your home by way of a mukaebi, or welcome fire. Families light lanterns and candles and place them outside their home to welcome and guide the spirit of their ancestors back.
The Welcoming and Send-off Vessels: Shōryō Uma and Ushi Uma 
At the beginning of Obon, families will also prepare a spirit horse, or Shōryō Uma, for the spirits of their ancestors to arrive on. An especially enjoyable tradition for children, this is made by adding small wooden legs to a cucumber. Similarly, an eggplant with legs is prepared as the Ushi Uma, or cow horse, as a way for the ancestors to depart at the end of the celebration. The spirits are to arrive swiftly and excitedly on the horse and leave slowly, full, and satisfied on the cow.
Household altar: Butsudan and the Ozen
In some ways similar to the Mexican Ofrenda, the Butsudan, a Buddhist household altar for revering ancestors, has special importance during Obon, in addition to being a staple in daily life. Families gather to place small food and other offerings called ozen on the Butsudan for their ancestors. The spirits of their ancestors are welcomed and treated as if they are still alive—with a fire for their welcome and a feast at their arrival. These treats and offerings are changed daily for the entirety of the multi-day celebration and differ region by region.
Grave Cleaning: Ohakamaeri
After the spirits have been welcomed and treated, many families will then visit the resting place of their ancestors in family cemeteries to clean, care for, and adorn family graves. Many cemeteries in Japan require a yearly payment to keep monuments erect, and families will find services like flower shops and clean water spigots surrounding the cemetery to help in their ritual.
Japanese Dance: Bon Odori
Arguably the most distinctive part of Obon is the Bon Odori, or Bon dance. Often in the evening, hundreds of people surround musicians and dancers who stand atop a temporary wooden structure in a public square. The songs and dances performed are regional, and everyone in the circle sings and dances along to the performers’ lead. These can often coincide with a Matsuri, or festival, complete with parades, street vendors, and other local events. The dance itself is an emulation of the Buddhist’s disciples’ dance of joy, and while the modern festivities may not have the same religious zeal, it is still a beautiful example of community and celebration.
The send off: Okuribi and Toronogashi
At the conclusion of the three-day events, families will send off their ancestral spirits similarly to how they welcomed them, with a send-off fire, or Okuribi. If by a body of water, many families will also participate in Toronogashi by dispatching floating lanterns into a local stream, river, or beach as a way to guide spirits back to where they came from.
Conclusion
The spirit’s journey during Obon mirrors the journey the family takes to remember them. A welcome, reverence and celebration, and a sendoff. While some traditions may be specific to location, others can be experienced in homes and communities all over the world! Obon can be a beautiful opportunity for all to invite their ancestors to be a greater part in their lives.
Ready to uncover your Japanese family history? Our expert genealogists can access records in the U.S. and onsite in Japan—many of which are not available online—to help you bridge the gap between past and present. Every day you wait is another day those stories remain untold. Connect with us today and take the first step toward discovering your Japanese roots.
Leave a Reply