ship of the dead; ghost ship appearing during Bon
A folkloric ghost ship said to appear to those who go fishing during the Obon festival. The term is culturally specific and rarely used outside discussions of Japanese folklore.
See also: お盆
お盆に漁に出ると亡者船が出るという言い伝えがある。
There is a legend that if you go fishing during Obon, a ship of the dead will appear.
Compound of 亡者 (もうじゃ, 'the dead, departed spirits') and 船 (ふね, 'boat, ship'). The exact origin of the legend is uncertain, but it is associated with Obon traditions and taboos against fishing during the festival.