Embrace the JapaneseSummer Customs

A Guide for New Expats in Japan

By: Asia Expat Guides

Summer in Japan

• Beautiful Japan is even more stunning during summer. Packed with festivals, events and comfortably taking place during the holidays, it is definitely a perfect time for family trips and vacations especially for expats who want to explore this lovely country! It also coincides with the New Year holidays, so summer in Japan is the apt season for family bonding, romance and many more!

• With emphasis on strengthening of family ties, paying visits to family members and sending of gifts are a customary practice. For the curious expats, here are some of the more popular summer customs practised in Japan!

Ochugen

• This midsummer custom involves the giving of gifts or presents to people whom one knows on a personal or business level. It is also way of showing appreciation and gratitude among relatives who live far away from one another, former students to their teachers, employees to their employers or bosses and even between companies that are working together.

• The gifts can be of anything and not restricted to specific items. This practice is usually common at the beginning of June and you will be able to spot many department stores and small shops organizing events for Ochugen.

• With the advent of technology, ordering gifts online has also become a norm and the gifts can range from Japanese traditional goods to Western confection like alcoholic beverages, noodles, bed sheets and detergent. However, one should avoid buying footwear as a gift as this has a negative connotation, whereby footwear conjures the image of being “stepped on”. Additionally, watches and stationery should also be avoided as they symbolize the idea of “working hard”, which are inappropriate gifts to those that are superior or more important.

Shochu Mimai

• This customary practice involves the handing of midsummer greeting cards known as Shochu mimai to friends and relatives. This is an act of showing care for one’s health during the hottest duration of the year. The cards are usually given out to the intended recipients from late July to the 7th August. However, this practice can still continue after that but it will be referred to as Zansho mimai instead.

Obon Holidays

• The Obon period lasts between the 13th August and 16th August. This is an important duration for the Japanese to pay respects to the spirits of the ancestors.

• The locals will make a fire (Mukaebi) on the 13th August to welcome the returning spirits and send them back on the 16th August with another fire called the Okuribi. This customary practice differs across different regions by adopting different colors and manners. Some regions celebrate this in July instead, while in some other regions, paper lanterns are sent down the river instead of making a fire.

• In other places, a horse made of cucumber and a cow made of eggplant is used as props to welcome and send them back. Businesses usually cease to operate during these days as many prefer to spend time with family members, relatives or simply to enjoy their vacation.

Japan, like many Asian countries, is very rich in customs and traditions that never fail to captivate and fascinate expats who have never lived in Asia before. This thus might result in culture shock, as acts of gratitude or appreciation are usually unspoken and expressed through actions. In order to avoid culture chock and at the same time, know more about the beautiful Japanese

culture, let us at Asia Expat Guides make your stay a memorable one! We will help you adjust to the local customs by introducing

you to the local food, places of interest, living area as well as give you opportunities to mingle with the locals so that you will be

able to know more about the Japanese lifestyle. You can also sign up for a professional Japanese language course so that you will be

able to communicate with the locals easily! Don’t let culture shock affect your stay in your host county. With

Asia Expat Guides, you will not hesitate to call Japan your second home!

Learn More about the Local Customs with Asia Expat

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For more information about being an expat in Asia, visit http://asiaexpatguides.com