Obon

A traditional Japanese observance welcoming and honoring ancestral spirits, held around August 13-16. Customs of lighting welcoming and farewell fires and dancing Bon-odori to commemorate ancestors are rooted nationwide. With many regional customs such as Kyoto's Daimonji Gozan Okuribi and Shoro Nagashi, it embodies the Japanese view of life and death.

徳島縣擁有超過400年歷史的日本規模最大的盂蘭盆舞蹈祭典。以「跳舞的傻瓜看舞的傻瓜，既然都是傻瓜不如跳起來」的呼聲聞名，每年8月盂蘭盆節期間舉辦。名為「連」的舞蹈隊伍隨著獨特的節奏穿梭街道起舞。

立春前日舉辦的日本傳統行事，民眾隨著「鬼滾出、福滾進」的口號撒豆子以驅除邪氣。吃惠方卷的習俗也已普及全國。作為季節交替時的厭勝儀式，神社寺廟也會舉辦盛大的撒豆活動。

日本人在新年時參拜神社與寺院的傳統習俗。明治神宮、成田山新勝寺、川崎大師等著名社寺在正月三日間便吸引數百萬人造訪。抽籤詩（omikuji）與在繪馬上書寫願望的風習深深根植於日本人的精神生活，象徵著新年的開始與文化精神。

立春前一日（約2月3日）舉行的季節交替儀式。隨著「鬼出去，福進來」的吆喝聲撒豆子，以驅逐邪氣、招引幸福。吃惠方卷的習俗已在全國普及，作為日本冬季傳統行事在家庭和神社寺廟廣為流行。

Japan's New Year culture of welcoming the toshigami deity with kadomatsu, shimenawa, and kagami-mochi, celebrating with osechi cuisine and otoso sake. New Year card exchanges, otoshidama gifts, and hatsumode visits are among many traditions concentrated at year's start, forming the foundation of the Japanese annual rhythm. It is the cultural milestone where the spirit of 'wa' (harmony) is felt most strongly.