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Japan Culture Navi 日本語

Life Events

Shichi-go-san, weddings, funerals, seasonal gifts and New Year cards.

76 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（14）

Standard（45）

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
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 Respect for the Aged Day敬老の日the September holiday honoring older people
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 greeting the neighbors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 shonanoka初七日the memorial service held on the seventh day after death
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 married surnames夫婦の姓why couples must share one name
Life EventsStandard naming a child名前のつけ方what you may and may not call a baby
Life EventsStandard divorce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 My Number card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
School LifeStandard half coming-of-age ceremony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 entrance and graduation ceremonies入学式と卒業式the formal ceremonies that open and close a school year
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（17）