お盆（Obon）とは？―日本人が大切にする先祖供養の夏の行事
お盆（Obon）ー日本人が大切にする先祖供養の夏の行事
お盆は日本の代表的な仏教行事。先祖の霊を迎え、感謝を伝える夏の風物詩です。新暦（7月盆）、旧暦（8月盆）、地域ごとの違いと伝統を、英語と日本語でわかりやすく紹介します。
お盆とは何か？
お盆（Obon）は日本で古くから行われている、ご先祖さまの霊を迎え、感謝を捧げる行事です。
多くの人が実家に帰省し、お墓参りをして家族と一緒に過ごします。
Obon is a Buddhist-inspired tradition in Japan to honor the spirits of ancestors.
家族が集まり、亡くなった人を思い出しながら感謝の気持ちを伝える時間です。
日本のお盆は、ただ「亡くなった人を悼む日」ではなく、ご先祖さまを思い出し再会する温かな行事でもあります。
お盆はいつ？―新暦と旧暦
お盆は全国一律の決まった日ではありません。これは、明治時代に日本が旧暦から新暦（太陽暦）へと移行した影響によるものです。
１）7月盆（新暦のお盆）
7月15日前後に行われる。
東京・横浜など都市部に多い。
Shichigatsu Bon (July Obon) is common in Tokyo and big cities.
２）8月盆（旧暦に合わせたお盆）
8月13日～16日頃。
全国的に最も一般的なお盆。
Hachigatsu Bon (August Obon) is the most widely observed across Japan.
３）旧盆（旧暦そのままのお盆）
沖縄や一部地域で現在も行われる。
毎年日付が変わる。
Kyū Bon (Lunar Obon) follows the lunar calendar and shifts yearly.
お盆の風習
お盆には、地域ごとに様々な習慣がありますが、共通するのは先祖を迎え、送り出す儀式です。
迎え火（Mukaebi） – 家の前で火を焚き、先祖の霊を迎える
お墓参り（Grave Visit） – 墓を掃除し、花や線香を供える
盆踊り（Bon Odori） – 先祖の霊とともに踊り、地域の絆を深める
送り火（Okuribi） – 霊を再びあの世へ送り出す火。京都の「五山送り火」が有名
Bon Odori is a joyful dance, symbolizing reunion with the spirits.
お盆の心
お盆が特別なのは、ただの形式的な行事ではなく家族や先祖とのつながりを意識し、実感する時間だからです。
「家族で集まる」ことそのものが供養につながる
先祖を「怖れる」のではなく「感謝する」文化
地域社会が一体となり、踊りや祭りで交流する
Obon is not about mourning, but about reunion and gratitude.
現代のお盆
現代の日本では、お盆は帰省ラッシュの時期としても有名です。新幹線や高速道路、空港が混雑し、多くの人が「ふるさと」に帰ります。
また、観光客にとっても魅力的なお祭りの季節です。盆踊り、灯籠流し（tōrō nagashi）、夜の提灯の明かりなど、日本の夏の情緒を強く感じられる行事として人気があります。
お盆は、日本の「先祖を大切にする心」を体現した行事です。
新暦（7月）、旧暦（8月）、地域ごとの違いがあっても、共通するのは先祖への感謝と家族の絆。
Obon reminds us of the invisible ties between past and present, family and community.
夏に日本を訪れるなら、ぜひお盆の雰囲気を体験してみてください。きっと目に見えない日本人の心に触れることができるでしょう。
Discover the meaning of Obon, Japan’s Buddhist festival to honor ancestors. Learn how modern Japan celebrates Obon in July or August, and explore the historical difference between the solar (new) and lunar (old) calendar observances.
What is Obon?
Obon (お盆) is one of the most important annual traditions in Japan. It is a Buddhist-inspired event in which families honor the spirits of their ancestors. During Obon, it is believed that the souls of the deceased return to this world to visit their living relatives. Families welcome them with rituals, food offerings, and festivals.
Although not a public holiday on the calendar, Obon is widely observed across Japan, and many people return to their hometowns to spend time with family and visit ancestral graves.
When is Obon Celebrated?
The timing of Obon is not fixed to a single date across Japan. This is partly due to the historical shift from the lunar calendar (旧暦) to the solar calendar (新暦) in the Meiji era (late 19th century).
Shichigatsu Bon (7月盆)
Celebrated in mid-July according to the solar calendar.
This was the “new calendar Obon” adopted in the Edo period and later formalized in the Meiji era.
Common in Tokyo, Yokohama, and other urban areas.
Hachigatsu Bon (8月盆)
Celebrated in mid-August, about a month later.
This is the most widespread practice today, because it better aligns with the old lunar calendar dates.
Observed in most parts of Japan, including Kyoto, Osaka, and rural regions.
Kyū Bon (旧盆 / Lunar Bon)
Still observed in some regions, such as Okinawa and parts of the countryside.
Based on the traditional lunar calendar, so the dates shift every year.
Keeps the closest link to the original Buddhist festival timing.
July Obon = Solar calendar adaptation (urban areas).
August Obon = Most common today, adjusted to match lunar timing.
Lunar Obon = Still practiced in certain regions.
Traditions and Customs
During Obon, families follow customs that welcome and send off the spirits of ancestors.
Mukaebi (迎え火 / Welcoming Fire): A small fire lit at the entrance of the home to guide spirits back.
Grave Visits (墓参り): Families clean and decorate the graves with flowers and incense.
Food Offerings: Seasonal fruits, vegetables, and special dishes are placed on family altars (butsudan).
Bon Odori (盆踊り / Bon Dance): A traditional folk dance performed at community festivals, symbolizing joy and reunion with the spirits.
Okuribi (送り火 / Farewell Fire): Fires lit to send the spirits back to the other world. The famous Gozan no Okuribi in Kyoto is a large-scale version of this ritual.
The Spirit of Obon
What makes Obon unique is not just the rituals, but the emotional connection it represents:
Families gather, strengthening bonds between generations.
Ancestors are remembered with gratitude, not fear.
Communities come together through festivals and dances.
While some cultures commemorate the dead with solemnity, Obon in Japan is filled with warmth, light, and togetherness. It is not a day of mourning, but a time of reunion between the living and the departed.
Obon in Modern Japan
Today, Obon is also one of the busiest travel seasons in Japan. Trains, highways, and airports are crowded with people returning to their hometowns. Companies often give employees a few days off for the holiday.
At the same time, Obon festivals attract many international visitors. Bon Odori events, glowing lanterns on rivers (tōrō nagashi), and lively summer nights make it a uniquely Japanese cultural experience.
Obon is a vivid example of how Japan blends ancient Buddhist traditions with seasonal aesthetics and family life. Whether observed in July, August, or by the lunar calendar, the essence remains the same: to honor ancestors and to celebrate the invisible ties that connect generations.
For international readers and English learners, understanding Obon opens a window into Japanese values: respect for family, gratitude for the past, and harmony with the cycles of life and death.
So, if you ever visit Japan in summer, look out for the lanterns, the Bon dances, and the warm gatherings of families—you may just experience the spirit of Obon yourself.
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