Translation guide
The Bon Festival (Obon) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of ancestors. For English-speaking learners, the key is to use the Japanese term 'Obon' and understand related expressions.
Referring to the annual event in mid-August (or mid-July in some regions) when families welcome back ancestral spirits.
The most common and natural way to refer to the Bon Festival. Use this in everyday conversation.
お盆には家族が集まります。
Families gather during the Bon Festival.
A shorter form, often used in compounds or written contexts.
盆の入りは13日です。
The first day of Bon is the 13th.
The full Buddhist term, rarely used in daily speech. Mainly seen in religious or historical contexts.
盂蘭盆会の起源は仏教にあります。
The origin of the Bon Festival lies in Buddhism.
Referring to the traditional dance performed during Obon.
The standard term for the Bon dance. Use this when talking about the event or activity.
今夜、公園で盆踊りがあります。
There's a Bon dance at the park tonight.
Referring to the custom of visiting family graves to clean them and offer prayers.
General term for visiting a grave, commonly used during Obon.
お盆にはお墓参りに行きます。
We go to visit the family grave during Obon.
Referring to the days when many people take time off work to return to their hometowns.
The Bon holidays, a peak travel season. Use this to talk about the vacation period.
お盆休みはいつですか？
When is your Bon holiday?
Describing the rituals of welcoming ancestral spirits at the beginning of Obon and sending them off at the end.
The welcoming fire lit on the first day of Obon to guide the spirits home.
迎え火を焚いて先祖の霊を迎えます。
We light a welcoming fire to greet the spirits of our ancestors.
The send-off fire lit on the last day of Obon to see the spirits back to the other world.
Obon is celebrated in mid-August in most of Japan (Hachigatsu Bon), but some areas follow the lunar calendar and celebrate in mid-July (Shichigatsu Bon). When making plans, confirm the local dates.
Although 'Bon Festival' is the common English gloss, Obon is primarily a solemn Buddhist observance. The lively dancing and events are part of it, but the core is ancestor veneration. Avoid describing it as a party or carnival.
お盆で帰省します。
I'm going back to my hometown for the Bon Festival.
帰省 (kisei) means returning to one's hometown, commonly used during Obon.
We see off the spirits of our ancestors with a send-off fire.