お盆ぼんは誰だれが帰かえってくる日ひ？Why Do Ancestors Come Home?

What is Obon, when does it happen, and does everyone in Japan get an “Obon vacation”? In this episode, Misaki and Nozomi explore how families may welcome ancestors home, visit graves, return to their hometowns, and send loved ones off again.

What You’ll Learn

Learn what Obon is and when it is observed, what “Obon vacation” really means, and how families may spend the season. You’ll also meet useful words such as 帰省, 迎え火, and 送り火, plus the warm meaning behind the cucumber horse and eggplant cow.

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Transcript

What is Obon?

Nozomi ねえミサキ。そもそも、お盆ぼんって何なに？

English: Hey Misaki. What exactly is Obon?

Misaki 日本にほんの夏なつにある、家族かぞくの行事ぎょうじだよ。

English: It is a family tradition held during summer in Japan.

Nozomi 夏祭なつまつりみたいなもの？

English: Is it like a summer festival?

Misaki 少すこし違ちがうね。お盆ぼんには亡なくなった家族かぞくや先祖せんぞが、家いえへ帰かえってくると考かんがえます。

English: It is a little different. During Obon, people believe deceased family members and ancestors return home.

Nozomi 「先祖せんぞ」は、おじいさんやおばあさんより前まえの家族かぞくも入はいる？

English: Does “ancestors” include family members from before our grandparents too?

Misaki そう。今いまの自分じぶんにつながる、昔むかしの家族かぞくのことだね。

English: Yes. It means family members from the past who are connected to who we are today.

Nozomi 亡なくなった人ひとが帰かえる、と聞きくと少すこし怖こわそう。

English: Hearing that deceased people return sounds a little scary.

Misaki 怖こわい話はなしではないよ。「おかえり」と迎むかえて、家族かぞくで思おもい出だすための時間じかんなんだ。

English: It is not a scary story. It is a time to welcome them home and remember them as a family.

Nozomi 幽霊ゆうれいの話はなしじゃなくて、家族かぞくの話はなしなんだね。

English: So it is not a ghost story. It is a family story.

Misaki うん。今日きょうは三みっつのことを話はなします。お盆ぼんはいつなのか。お盆休ぼんやすみとは何なにか。そして、家族かぞくは何なにをするのか。

English: Right. Today, we will talk about three things: when Obon is, what Obon vacation means, and what families do.

Misaki ということで始はじまりました、Late Night Japanese Chat。

English: And with that, welcome to Late Night Japanese Chat.

Misaki 私わたしたち、ミサキと…

English: We are Misaki and…

Nozomi ノゾミがお届とどけします。今夜こんやも、ゆっくり話はなしていきましょう。

English: Nozomi. Let’s take our time and talk together tonight.

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When is Obon?

Nozomi お盆ぼんは、毎年まいとしいつ頃いつごろなの？

English: Around when is Obon held each year?

Misaki 多おおくの地域ちいきでは、八月はちがつの真まん中なか頃ごろだよ。

English: In many regions, it is around the middle of August.

Nozomi 八月はちがつの夏休なつやすみと重かさなるんだね。

English: So it overlaps with summer vacation in August.

Misaki そう。でも、東京とうきょうなど七月しちがつにお盆ぼんを行おこなう地域ちいきもあります。

English: Yes. But some regions, including parts of Tokyo, observe Obon in July.

Nozomi 日本中にほんじゅうで同おなじ日ひじゃないの？

English: It is not on the same date throughout Japan?

Misaki うん。地域ちいきによって時期じきが違ちがいます。家いえによって過すごし方かたも違ちがうよ。

English: Right. The timing differs by region, and the way people spend it differs by family.

Nozomi じゃあ、日本にほんで「お盆ぼんはいつ？」と聞きいたら、答こたえが一ひとつじゃないんだ。

English: So if I ask, “When is Obon?” in Japan, there is not just one answer.

Misaki そうだね。ニュースで「お盆ぼんの帰省きせいが始はじまりました」と聞きくのは、八月はちがつが多おおいです。

English: That is right. However, news reports about people returning home for Obon are often heard in August.

Nozomi 駅えきや空港くうこうが混こんでいる映像えいぞうを見みる時期じきだね。

English: That is when we see footage of crowded stations and airports.

Misaki 車くるまが長ながく並ならぶ「渋滞じゅうたい」も、お盆ぼんのニュースでよく聞きく言葉ことばです。

English: “Jutai,” meaning a long traffic jam, is another word often heard in Obon news.

Nozomi お盆ぼんは夏なつの行事ぎょうじ。でも、日ひにちは地域ちいきで違ちがう。まずはそれで大丈夫だいじょうぶだね。

English: Obon is a summer tradition, but its dates differ by region. That is enough to remember for now.

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What is Obon vacation?

Nozomi もう一ひとつ聞ききたい。「お盆休ぼんやすみ」って何なに？

English: I have another question. What is “Obon vacation”?

Misaki お盆ぼんの頃ころに、会社かいしゃや店みせが何日なんにちか休やすみになることだよ。

English: It means that some companies and shops close for several days around Obon.

Nozomi 国くにが決きめた祝日しゅくじつなの？

English: Is it a national holiday decided by the government?

Misaki いい質問しつもんだね。お盆休ぼんやすみは、国くにの祝日しゅくじつではありません。

English: Good question. Obon vacation is not a national holiday.

Nozomi じゃあ、全員ぜんいんが休やすみになるわけじゃない？

English: So not everyone gets time off?

Misaki そう。会社かいしゃが休やすみを決きめる場合ばあいもあるし、普通ふつうに働はたらく人ひともいます。

English: Exactly. Some companies decide to close, while other people work as usual.

Nozomi 病院びょういんやホテル、電車でんしゃで働はたらく人ひともいるもんね。

English: People still work at hospitals, hotels, and on trains.

Misaki うん。ここで言葉ことばを分わけてみよう。「お盆休ぼんやすみ」は、「お盆ぼん」と「休やすみ」を合あわせた言葉ことばです。

English: Right. Let’s break down the word. “Obon-yasumi” combines “Obon” and “yasumi,” meaning a break.

Nozomi 名前なまえは簡単かんたんだけど、休やすめるかどうかは仕事しごとによる。

English: The name is simple, but whether you get a break depends on your job.

Misaki その通とおり。「日本にほんはお盆ぼんだから全部ぜんぶお休やすみ」と思おもわないほうがいいね。

English: Exactly. It is better not to assume that everything in Japan closes during Obon.

Nozomi お店みせへ行いくときは、営業日えいぎょうびを確認かくにんすると安心あんしんだね。

English: It is a good idea to check opening days before visiting a shop.

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What do people do?

Nozomi では、お盆ぼんには実際じっさいに何なにをするの？

English: So what do people actually do during Obon?

Misaki よく聞きくのは、お墓参はかまいりだね。家族かぞくのお墓はかへ行いきます。

English: One common activity is visiting family graves.

Nozomi お墓はかで、何なにをするの？

English: What do people do there?

Misaki 周まわりを掃除そうじしたり、花はなを置おいたりします。そして、手てを合あわせます。

English: They may clean the area, place flowers, and put their hands together in prayer.

Nozomi 「来きましたよ」と、亡なくなった家族かぞくに会あいに行いく感かんじなんだね。

English: It is like visiting deceased family members and saying, “We are here.”

Misaki うん。家いえでは、花はなや食たべ物ものを供そなえることもあります。

English: Yes. At home, some families also offer flowers or food.

Nozomi 亡なくなった人ひとが好すきだったものを置おく家いえもある？

English: Do some families offer something the deceased person liked?

Misaki あります。「甘あまいものが好すきだったね」と話はなしながら、お菓子かしを用意よういすることもあるよ。

English: Yes. A family may prepare sweets while saying, “They loved sweet things.”

Nozomi そのあと、生いきている家族かぞくも一緒いっしょに食たべそう。

English: The living family members might eat them together afterward.

Misaki それも自然しぜんだね。家族かぞくで食事しょくじをしたり、亡なくなった人ひとの話はなしをしたりする。それもお盆ぼんの過すごし方かたです。

English: That is natural too. Families may eat together and talk about those who have died. That is also a way to spend Obon.

Nozomi 特別とくべつな儀式ぎしきだけじゃなくて、掃除そうじや食事しょくじも入はいるんだね。

English: So Obon includes not only special rituals, but also cleaning and sharing a meal.

Misaki そう。ただし、何なにをするかは地域ちいきや家いえで違ちがいます。

English: Exactly. But what people do differs by region and family.

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Why return home?

Nozomi お盆ぼんになると、どうして多おおくの人ひとが実家じっかへ帰かえるの？

English: Why do many people return to their family homes during Obon?

Misaki 家族かぞくで集あつまりやすいからだね。お墓はかが、ふるさとの近ちかくにある人ひとも多おおいです。

English: It is a convenient time for family gatherings. Many people also have family graves near their hometowns.

Nozomi 「実家じっか」は自分じぶんが育そだった家いえや、親おやが住すんでいる家いえのことだね。

English: “Jikka” means the home where you grew up or where your parents live.

Misaki そう。実家じっかやふるさとへ帰かえることを、「帰省きせい」と言いいます。

English: Right. Returning to your family home or hometown is called “kisei.”

Nozomi いつも別々べつべつに暮くらしている家族かぞくが、同おなじ家いえに集あつまるんだ。

English: Family members who usually live apart gather in one home.

Misaki 一緒いっしょに食事しょくじをします。子こどもの成長せいちょうを見みせたり、昔むかしの話はなしをしたりします。

English: They eat together, show how the children have grown, and share old stories.

Nozomi 久ひさしぶりに会あうと、「大おおきくなったね」が何回なんかいも聞きこえそう。

English: When relatives meet after a long time, you probably hear, “You have grown so much,” again and again.

Misaki 子こどもから見みると、毎年まいとし言いわれる言葉ことばかもしれないね。

English: For a child, that may be something they hear every year.

Nozomi でも、全員ぜんいんが実家じっかへ帰かえるわけではないよね。

English: But not everyone returns to their family home.

Misaki もちろん。仕事しごとや距離きょりの問題もんだいもあります。帰かえる家いえがない人ひともいる。電話でんわだけする人ひともいます。

English: Of course. Work and distance can make it difficult. Some people no longer have a family home, and some only make a phone call.

Nozomi 帰省きせいは大切たいせつな習慣しゅうかんだけど、必かならずしなければならないルールではないんだね。

English: Returning home is an important custom, but it is not a rule everyone must follow.

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Welcome and send off

Misaki お盆ぼんでは、亡なくなった家族かぞくを「迎むかえる」と言いいます。

English: During Obon, people say they “welcome” deceased family members.

Nozomi 目めには見みえないけど、「おかえり」と言いうんだね。

English: They cannot be seen, but families say, “Welcome home.”

Misaki そう。地域ちいきによっては、家いえへ来くる道みちが分わかるように「迎むかえ火び」をたきます。

English: Yes. In some regions, families light a welcoming fire to show the way home.

Nozomi 暗くらい道みちに、小ちいさな目印めじるしを置おく感かんじ。

English: It is like placing a small sign on a dark road.

Misaki そして、お盆ぼんの終おわりには「送おくり火び」をたく地域ちいきもあります。

English: Then, at the end of Obon, some regions light a sending fire.

Nozomi 今度こんどは、「気きをつけて帰かえってね」という火ひ？

English: This time, does the fire mean, “Travel safely home”?

Misaki そう考かんがえると分わかりやすいね。

English: That is an easy way to understand it.

Nozomi 迎むかえたのに、また送おくるのは少すこし寂さびしいな。

English: It feels a little sad to send them off after welcoming them home.

Misaki 「さようなら」ではなくて、「また来年らいねん」に近ちかいのかもしれないね。

English: It may be closer to “See you next year” than “Goodbye.”

Nozomi お盆ぼんの始はじまりは「帰かえってくる」。終おわりは「帰かえっていく」。

English: At the start of Obon, they “come home.” At the end, they “go home.”

Misaki ここが今日きょうのミニ解説かいせつ。「〜てくる」は、こちらへ近ちかづく動うごき。「〜ていく」は、こちらから離はなれる動うごきです。

English: Here is today’s mini lesson. “Te kuru” describes movement toward us, while “te iku” describes movement away from us.

Nozomi 迎むかえる。過すごす。そして送おくる。この三みっつで、お盆ぼんの流ながれが見みえるね。

English: Welcome, spend time together, and send off. Those three actions show the flow of Obon.

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Cucumber horse and eggplant cow

Nozomi お盆ぼんの基本きほんは分わかった。でも、キュウリに足あしがついている写真しゃしんは何なに？

English: I understand the basics now. But what are those photos of cucumbers with legs?

Misaki 最後さいごに、その小ちいさな謎なぞも話はなそう。

English: Let’s finish with that little mystery.

Nozomi キュウリに短みじかい棒ぼうを四本よんほんつけて、馬うまの形かたちにするんだよね。

English: People put four short sticks into a cucumber to make the shape of a horse, right?

Misaki うん。「精霊馬しょうりょううま」と呼よばれます。作つくらない地域ちいきや家いえもあるよ。

English: Yes. It is called a shoryo-uma, or spirit horse. Some regions and families do not make one.

Nozomi どうしてキュウリが馬うまなの？

English: Why is the cucumber a horse?

Misaki 足あしの速はやい馬うまに乗のって、早はやく家いえへ帰かえってきてほしい。そんな思おもいを表あらわすと言いわれています。

English: It is said to express the wish that ancestors ride a fast horse and return home quickly.

Nozomi じゃあ、ナスに足あしをつけたものは？

English: Then what is the eggplant with legs?

Misaki そちらは牛うしです。帰かえりは、ゆっくり歩あるく牛うしに乗のってほしい。そう言いわれます。

English: That one is a cow. It is said to represent the wish that they ride a slow cow on the way back.

Nozomi 来くるときは急いそいで。帰かえるときは、ゆっくり。

English: Hurry on the way here. Take your time on the way back.

Misaki 「早はやく会あいたい」「少すこしでも長ながくいてほしい」という、家族かぞくの気持きもちだね。

English: It expresses a family’s feelings: “We want to see you soon,” and, “We want you to stay a little longer.”

Nozomi 見みた目めは少すこし面白おもしろいけど、意味いみを知しると温あたたかい飾かざりだね。

English: It looks a little funny, but once you know the meaning, it feels warm.

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Three Obon basics

Misaki では、今日きょうの三みっつのポイントをまとめよう。

English: Let’s summarize today’s three points.

Nozomi 一ひとつ目め。お盆ぼんは、亡なくなった家族かぞくや先祖せんぞが家いえへ帰かえる夏なつの行事ぎょうじ。

English: First, Obon is a summer tradition when people believe deceased family members and ancestors return home.

Misaki 二ふたつ目め。お盆休ぼんやすみは、会社かいしゃなどの休やすみ。でも祝日しゅくじつではなく、全員ぜんいんが休やすむわけではありません。

English: Second, Obon vacation means some companies close around Obon. But it is not a national holiday, and not everyone gets time off.

Nozomi 三みっつ目め。お墓参はかまいりや食事しょくじをします。亡なくなった人ひとを迎むかえ、最後さいごに送おくります。

English: Third, families may visit graves and eat together, welcoming those who died and eventually sending them off again.

Nozomi 「迎むかえる。一緒いっしょに過すごす。そして送おくる」。まず、この三みっつを覚おぼえればいいね。

English: “Welcome, spend time together, and send off.” Those are the first three things to remember.

Misaki そして、生いきている人ひとも実家じっかへ帰かえる。お盆ぼんは、家族かぞくが「帰かえる場所ばしょ」を考かんがえる時間じかんなんだね。

English: And living people return to their family homes too. Obon is a time for families to think about a place to return to.

Nozomi みなさんの国くにには、亡なくなった家族かぞくを思おもい出だす日ひがありますか？

English: Does your country have a day for remembering family members who have died?

Nozomi 今夜こんやも聞きいてくれて、ありがとうございました。

English: Thank you for listening tonight.

Misaki この番組ばんぐみが、あなたの日本語にほんごの「居場所いばしょ」の一ひとつになれたら嬉うれしいです。

English: We would love for this show to become one of your “ibasho” — a place you belong — on your Japanese journey.

Nozomi よかったらチャンネル登録とうろくして、また帰かえってきてね。

English: If you would like, subscribe and come back again.

Nozomi おやすみなさい。

English: Good night.

Vocabulary

Each word includes the original line from the transcript and one extra example. Use “See in transcript” to jump back to the conversation.

Cultural Notes

Obon does not happen on exactly the same dates everywhere in Japan. Many regions observe it around the middle of August, while some areas, including parts of Tokyo, observe it in July. Customs also vary by region and family.

“Obon vacation” is not a national holiday. Some companies and shops close for several days around Obon, while many people continue working as usual.

Welcoming and sending customs are not universal. Some families light 迎え火 and 送り火, and some make a cucumber horse and eggplant cow. These customs can express the wish for ancestors to return quickly and leave slowly, but not every household practices them.