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Japan Culture Navi 日本語

Annual Events

New Year, Setsubun, hanami, Obon and the festivals that mark the Japanese year.

96 entries

Tap a title to open the full entry: three lengths of English explanation, the questions people actually ask, ready-made phrases and audio.

Essential（30）

Standard（49）

ArtsStandard shishimai獅子舞the lion dance that bites your head for luck
BuddhismStandard joya no kane除夜の鐘the 108 bells on New Year's Eve
Martial ArtsStandard enbu演武a martial arts demonstration performed instead of a match
Martial ArtsStandard honbasho大相撲の本場所the six official grand sumo tournaments held each year
Annual EventsStandard otsukimiお月見moon viewing in autumn
Annual EventsStandard Sapporo yuki matsuriさっぽろ雪まつりthe February festival of giant snow sculptures in Sapporo
Annual EventsStandard supotsu no hiスポーツの日Sports Day, the second Monday of October
Annual EventsStandard dondo yakiどんど焼きthe mid-January bonfire for New Year decorations
Annual EventsStandard koromogae衣替えthe seasonal switch between summer and winter clothing
Annual EventsStandard umi no hi海の日Marine Day, the third Monday of July
Annual EventsStandard kanchu mimai寒中見舞いthe midwinter greeting card
Annual EventsStandard kanto matsuri竿燈まつりthe Akita festival of lantern poles balanced on one hand
Annual EventsStandard kisei rasshu帰省ラッシュthe mass return to the hometown
Annual EventsStandard kagami biraki鏡開きbreaking open the New Year rice cakes
Annual EventsStandard kagamimochi鏡餅と鏡開きthe stacked New Year rice cakes
Annual EventsStandard kinro kansha no hi勤労感謝の日Labor Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd
Annual EventsStandard keiro no hi敬老の日the September holiday honoring older people
Annual EventsStandard kenkoku kinen no hi建国記念の日National Foundation Day, February 11th
Annual EventsStandard kenpo kinenbi憲法記念日Constitution Memorial Day, May 3rd
Annual EventsStandard goyo osame御用納めと仕事始めthe last and first working days of the year
Annual EventsStandard yama no hi山の日Mountain Day, August 11th, Japan's newest public holiday
Annual EventsStandard nanakusa七草がゆthe seven-herb porridge eaten on January 7th
Annual EventsStandard tanabata七夕the star festival
Annual EventsStandard shochu mimai暑中見舞いthe midsummer greeting card
Annual EventsStandard kakizome書き初めthe first calligraphy of the year
Annual EventsStandard Showa no hi to midori no hi昭和の日とみどりの日the two late-April holidays that swapped names and dates
Annual EventsStandard matsu no uchi松の内the period New Year decorations stay up
Annual EventsStandard shogatsu no asobi正月の遊びthe traditional games played at New Year
Annual EventsStandard shoryo uma精霊馬the cucumber horse and eggplant cow made for Obon
Annual EventsStandard setsubun節分the bean-throwing festival at the start of spring
Annual EventsStandard tenno tanjobi天皇誕生日the Emperor's Birthday, a holiday whose date changes with the reign
Annual EventsStandard doyo no ushi土用の丑の日the day everyone eats eel
Annual EventsStandard toji冬至the shortest day, with a yuzu bath and pumpkin
Annual EventsStandard toji to yuzuyu冬至とゆず湯the winter solstice and citrus baths
Annual EventsStandard toro nagashi灯籠流しfloating lanterns for the dead
Annual EventsStandard tori no ichi酉の市the November rake market for good business
Annual EventsStandard nijushi sekki二十四節気the twenty-four solar terms of the traditional calendar
Annual EventsStandard nihon no harowin日本のハロウィンHalloween as a street costume event
Annual EventsStandard kashiwamochi and chimaki柏餅とちまきthe two sweets eaten on Children's Day, east and west
Annual EventsStandard higan彼岸the weeks around the equinoxes when families visit graves
Annual EventsStandard bunka no hi文化の日Culture Day, November 3rd
Annual EventsStandard kadomatsu門松the pine and bamboo arrangement placed at the door for the New Year
Annual EventsStandard rokuyo六曜the six-day luck cycle on calendars
Food & DrinkStandard ehomaki恵方巻the uncut sushi roll eaten facing a set direction at Setsubun
Seasons & NatureStandard kyureki旧暦the old lunisolar calendar Japan used until 1872
Seasons & NatureStandard sakura zensen桜前線the cherry blossom front
Pop CultureStandard Kohaku Uta Gassen紅白歌合戦the New Year's Eve song contest on public television
School LifeStandard bunkasai文化祭the school culture festival
ShintoStandard Gion Matsuri祇園祭the month-long Kyoto festival that began as a rite against plague

Advanced（17）