Obon お盆

Obon is an annual Japanese observance held in summer when families return home to honor their ancestors and welcome the spirits of the deceased. It is rooted in Japanese Buddhism and involves rituals, gatherings, and traditions such as Bon odori dances and the use of lanterns.

During Obon, families gather with relatives to celebrate safety and well-being. Cucumbers and eggplants are fashioned into horses and cows, a tradition believed to welcome spirits safely back to this world. Lanterns glow softly across towns and villages as part of the observance.