Life Events
Shichi-go-san, weddings, funerals, seasonal gifts and New Year cards.
96 entriesTap a title to open the full entry: three lengths of English explanation, the questions people actually ask, ready-made phrases and audio.
Essential（16）
- ArtsEssential geisha and maiko芸者と舞妓professional entertainers trained in dance, music and hosting
- BuddhismEssential ohakamairiお墓参りvisiting the family grave
- ClothingEssential hankachiハンカチa small cloth or towel that people carry to dry their hands
- ConceptsEssential jankenじゃんけんrock-paper-scissors, used by adults to decide almost anything
- Annual EventsEssential oshogatsuお正月the Japanese New Year
- Annual EventsEssential otoshidamaお年玉New Year money given to children
- Annual EventsEssential kodomo no hiこどもの日Children's Day and the carp streamers
- Annual EventsEssential hinamatsuri雛祭りthe doll festival on March 3rd
- Annual EventsEssential omisoka大晦日New Year's Eve in Japan
- Annual EventsEssential haha no hi to chichi no hi母の日と父の日how Japan observes the two imported family days
- Life EventsEssential iei遺影the portrait photograph displayed at a funeral
- Life EventsEssential kazokusou家族葬a funeral limited to close family and a few relatives
- Life EventsEssential kon'in todoke婚姻届the marriage registration form filed at a city office
- Life EventsEssential nengajo年賀状New Year greeting cards
- MannersEssential shugibukuro祝儀袋と不祝儀袋the envelopes for celebration and condolence money
- School LifeEssential maru to batsu丸とバツthe circle for "right" and the X for "wrong" used in Japan
Standard（61）
- BuddhismStandard ofuseお布施the money offered to a priest, with no stated price
- BuddhismStandard soryo僧侶Buddhist priests in Japan, who may marry and inherit a temple
- ClothingStandard furisode振袖the long-sleeved kimono for unmarried women
- ClothingStandard mofuku喪服the black clothing worn to a funeral
- ClothingStandard higasa日傘a parasol, an umbrella for blocking the sun
- ClothingStandard tomesode留袖the most formal kimono for married women, with patterns only near the hem
- ConceptsStandard shitsukeしつけbringing up a child to behave considerately
- ConceptsStandard kazoedoshi数え年the old way of counting age, from one at birth
- ConceptsStandard hogen方言the regional dialects of Japanese
- ConceptsStandard myoji名字Japanese family names and where they came from
- Annual EventsStandard keiro no hi敬老の日the September holiday honoring older people
- FolkloreStandard kanashibari金縛りsleep paralysis, the feeling of being awake but unable to move
- Life EventsStandard omiyamairiお宮参りa baby's first shrine visit
- Life EventsStandard omiaiお見合いan introduction with marriage in mind
- Life EventsStandard oiwai no sekiお祝いの席a formal Japanese celebration meal
- Life EventsStandard okuizomeお食い初めthe first meal ceremony at 100 days
- Life EventsStandard osoushikiお葬式a Japanese funeral
- Life EventsStandard goshugiご祝儀the money you give at a wedding
- Life EventsStandard bukku kabaブックカバーa paper cover that a bookstore wraps around a book you buy
- Life EventsStandard hikkoshi no aisatsu引っ越しの挨拶the visit you make after moving in
- Life EventsStandard kaikiiwai快気祝いthe thank-you gift sent after recovering from illness or injury
- Life EventsStandard kanreki還暦と長寿の祝いbirthdays that mark a long life
- Life EventsStandard nijikai結婚式の二次会the casual after-party that follows a wedding reception
- Life EventsStandard koden香典condolence money brought to a funeral
- Life EventsStandard kotsuage骨上げpicking up the cremated bones with chopsticks
- Life EventsStandard shichi-go-san七五三the festival for children aged seven, five and three
- Life EventsStandard tategaki縦書きvertical writing, read from top to bottom and right to left
- Life EventsStandard shonanoka初七日the memorial service held on the seventh day after death
- Life EventsStandard tokoya床屋a barbershop
- Life EventsStandard furikae kyujitsu振替休日a substitute day off when a national holiday falls on a Sunday
- Life EventsStandard shinzenshiki神前式a Shinto wedding
- Life EventsStandard seijinshiki成人式the coming-of-age ceremony
- Life EventsStandard mochu hagaki喪中はがきthe mourning notice sent before New Year
- Life EventsStandard tanjobi no iwaikata誕生日の祝い方how birthdays are marked across a Japanese life, beyond a party
- Life EventsStandard nakodo仲人the go-between who arranged and formally witnessed a marriage
- Life EventsStandard tsuya通夜the wake held the night before a funeral
- Life EventsStandard uchiiwai内祝いthe thank-you gift after a celebration
- Life EventsStandard nengajo jimai年賀状じまいstopping sending New Year cards, and telling people so
- Life EventsStandard fufu no sei夫婦の姓why couples must share one name
- Life EventsStandard bunkobon文庫本small, inexpensive pocket-sized paperback books
- Life EventsStandard namae no tsukekata名前のつけ方what you may and may not call a baby
- Life EventsStandard rikon離婚how divorce works in Japan
- MannersStandard temiyage手土産the gift you bring when you visit
- Modern JapanStandard furusato nozeiふるさと納税donating to another town and having it deducted from your own tax
- Modern JapanStandard mai nanba kadoマイナンバーカードthe national ID card that now also works as a health insurance card
- Modern JapanStandard kaigo介護long-term care, and the insurance system behind it
- Modern JapanStandard kampo漢方traditional herbal medicine as practiced in Japan
- Modern JapanStandard kokumin kaihoken国民皆保険the public health insurance everyone in Japan is required to join
- Modern JapanStandard shuwa手話Japanese Sign Language
- Onsen & BathStandard kerorin okeケロリン桶the yellow plastic bath bucket with an ad on it, found in public baths
- Onsen & BathStandard kyodo yokujo共同浴場a small shared hot-spring bathhouse run for and by local residents
- Onsen & BathStandard bandai番台the raised attendant's seat at the entrance of a public bath
- School LifeStandard gakudo hoiku学童保育after-school care for elementary school children
- School LifeStandard yosegaki寄せ書きa group message card that many people sign for one person
- School LifeStandard nibun no ichi seijinshiki二分の一成人式an elementary school event around age ten where children reflect on their first decade and thank their families
- School LifeStandard nyugakushiki to sotsugyoshiki入学式と卒業式the formal ceremonies that open and close a school year
- School LifeStandard bunbogu文房具stationery
- School LifeStandard renrakucho連絡帳a notebook passed between school and home every day
- ShintoStandard yakubarai厄払いthe shrine rite performed in an unlucky year of life
- Work CultureStandard ikuji kyugyo育児休業parental leave
- Work CultureStandard tenkin転勤company-ordered relocation
Advanced（19）
- BuddhismAdvanced kaimyo戒名the Buddhist name given after death
- BuddhismAdvanced hoji法事a Buddhist memorial service
- ClothingAdvanced montsuki hakama紋付袴formal Japanese dress for men
- ConceptsAdvanced amae甘えdepending on another person's goodwill
- CraftsAdvanced denden daikoでんでん太鼓the pellet drum you shake to quiet a baby
- Annual EventsAdvanced jusan mairi十三参りthe shrine visit at thirteen
- FolkloreAdvanced yakudoshi厄年the unlucky years of your life
- Home & LivingAdvanced nisetai jutaku二世帯住宅a house built for two generations
- Life EventsAdvanced ochugen and oseiboお中元・お歳暮the two seasonal gift-giving periods
- Life EventsAdvanced eitai kuyo永代供養the temple keeping your grave when nobody is left to
- Life EventsAdvanced yuino結納the formal engagement ceremony
- Life EventsAdvanced koseki戸籍the family register
- Life EventsAdvanced sankotsu散骨scattering ashes at sea, and the rules around it
- Life EventsAdvanced satogaeri shussan出産と里帰りgoing home to your mother to give birth
- Life EventsAdvanced hakajimai墓じまいclosing a family grave
- Modern JapanAdvanced kodokushi孤独死dying alone and not being found
- Modern JapanAdvanced doseikon同性婚why Japan has partnership systems in most cities but no legal marriage
- Onsen & BathAdvanced yumeguri tegata湯めぐり手形a pass that lets you bathe at several hot springs in one onsen town
- Pop CultureAdvanced Jomo karuta上毛かるたa karuta card game about Gunma Prefecture that most people there learn as children