The 7th of July is 七夕 (たなばた – tanabata). In English it is known either as the “Festival of the Weaver” or the “Star Festival”, both in reference to a legend regarding two stars: Altair and Vega.

The legend was originally from China, and it seems the story changed a little in the Japanese version. Anyway, the story goes roughly as follows.

The Story of Kengyuu and Orihime

Once upon a time, a young man named 牽牛 (けんぎゅう – Kengyuu, the Japanese name for Altair) fell in love with a young woman named 織姫 （おりひめ – Orihime, the Japanese name for Vega). They loved each other so much, they forgot their own work as cowherd and weaver. The 神 （かみ – kami – God) of Heaven got angry about this, and the lovers were split apart by the two banks of 天の川 （あまのがわ – amanogawa – the Milky Way). Since that time, they’re allowed to meet only once a year, during the night of the 7th of July.

Thus, we regard that day as a romantic day, and actually lots of events for lovers and about 星 （ほし – hoshi – stars) take place here and there. Lots of artists tend to give concerts named after 星 (stars) around this season.

Make a Wish

The day of 七夕 (tanabata) is not a holiday, but there are events which some people, especially children, look forward to. One big tradition is this: You might see bamboo “trees” (they’re not real trees, though) which have lots of colorful 短冊　（たんざく – tanzaku – strips of paper) in the backyard of a house. Anyone can write a wish on a 短冊 （strip of paper), and hang it from the bamboo branches. If the sky is clear on the night of 七夕, your wish might be accepted by 神様 （かみさま – kamisama – God) of Heaven. But you must give up it when it’s a rainy night. In fact, the poor lovers (Altair and Vega) can’t meet either on a rainy night, so they must wait for next year.

Since it includes such sadness, many writers and musicians want to weave the story of Altair and Vega in their works. On the other hand, it’s attractive as well; for example. at an elementary school, you can see larger bamboo branches which are full of colorful 短冊 (strips of paper) on which pupils’ wishes are written. In some streets in shopping areas, each store might display more gorgeous bamboo with 短冊 (strips of paper) and other things.

Tanabata for Children

Here is an event which is even more fun for children. From the afternoon to the evening of 七夕, small groups of children visit houses in their neighborhoods. They wait for someone from the house in front of the door, and start to sing as soon as the door is opened:

ろうそく　出せ　出せよ
出さないと　ひっかくぞ

That means : Hand over a candle, or you’ll be scratched!

That’s similar to “trick or treat” on Halloween, no? Anyway, children are supposed to be given お菓子 (おかし – okashi – sweets and snacks) after the chant. Of course nobody offers any ろうそく – rousoku – candles), and children don’t expect such stuff, lol. They can visit lots of houses, so hopefully they can get a large amount of treats. Recently, some stores sell small bags and boxes of お菓子 (sweets and snacks) for 七夕 so that people can prepare for the visitors more easily. In fact, some children are too shy to sing the chant, but anyway they want to go out to get the precious things.

But this event varies from region to region. The chant above is sung here in Sapporo, and it’s heard in some other towns as well. But other towns may have different chants, and there are some places which don’t have this custom, I hear. Therefore, if you visit someone who moved from such a place, you can’t expect any sweets.

Besides, 七夕 is on the 7th of August in some regions including here in Hokkaido. So, if the sky is clear, the eternal lovers may be able to meet twice a year. It’s usually only children who write their wishes on 短冊, (strips of paper), but if you have someone special, you might write your wish secretly.

Notes About Stars

Here is some vocabulary regarding stars:

• 北斗七星 （ほくとしちせい – hokuto shichisei – the Big Dipper (Ursa Major))
• 流れ星 （ながれぼし – nagareboshi – a falling ster)
• 星座 （せいざ – seiza – constellation)
• 星占い （ほしうらない – hoshi uranai – astrology)
• プラネタリウム (puranetariumu – planetarium)
• 銀河系 （ぎんがけい – gingakei – the Galaxy (“ginga” means “silver river”))

In a detective novels and films, the word “星 (hoshi)” refers to the culprit.

必ず星を捕まえろ。
Kanarazu hoshi o tsukamaero.
Catch the wanted man without fail!

Personally I like the English expression “Milky Way”, but I think Japanese version “天の川” which means “a river of heaven” literally is lovely as well. I’m curious about the expression in your places. What is The Milky Way called in your language?

By Shizu

Edited by the StudyJapanese Team

The holiday お盆 is one of the most important holidays in Japan. It is also a time for people to return back to their families and home towns.

The word お盆 is often translated as “Bon festival”, but personally I feel that’s not really suitable. Anyway, you can decide for yourself after reading this article.

National Holiday for Most People

お盆 is one of the biggest customs here in Japan, and perhaps the only event regarding 仏教 (ぶっきょう – bukkyou – Buddhism) which involves taking time off from work. Interestingly enough, our 祝日 (しゅくじつ – shukujitsu – national holidays) aren’t related with 宗教　（しゅうきょう – shuukyou – religion), and お盆 isn’t a holiday, either. However, in most cases, lots of people can take days off for お盆, and actually public places such as 市役所（しやくしょ – shiyakusho – government offices), 郵便局 (ゆうびんきょく – yuubinkyoku – post offices), 病院 (びょういん – byouin – hospitals) are closed during obon days. Mostly お盆 is held during three days (13th – 15th) in August, or July in some regions.

Return of the Dead Spirits

In 仏教 (Buddhism), 魂 (たましい – tamashii – soul/spirit) of dead person comes back home on お盆, and we prepare to welcome it. Such a 魂 (soul/spirit– but we regard it as the “person” rather than his/her soul, I feel) is supposed to return to the tomb and to the house where the “person” was living when he/she died. So, we should clean these places.

We go to the 寺 (てら – tera – temple) which has the 墓　（はか – haka – grave or tomb) of our family, and clean the 墓 (tomb). After cleaning, we offer flowers and food like fruits and sweets at the 墓 (tomb). You might say something to the “person”, or talk about the “person” with your family and relatives in front of the 墓 (tomb).

After that, we enter the 寺 (temple). During お盆, lots of people visit there, and the 僧侶 (そうりょ – souryo – priest) recites a お経 (おきょう – okyou – sutra) for the soul/spirit. During the recitation of the　お経 (sutra), people listen to it, or some of them might read in low voice together with the priest (some people have the sutra printed in a booklet). If you like music, you might find the traditional instruments which are played during the recitation interesting. Also, the 僧侶 (priest) often sings quite nicely. The 僧侶 (priest) for our family has a very nice voice, and I enjoy the music played along with the お経 (sutra) by the priests.

After that, we have to listen to a boring sermon by the 僧侶 (priest). Oops, I don’t mean to say that ALL priests give boring sermons, but at least they’re long and boring for children, and the parents have to watch them carefully, or they may start running around, lol.

An Altar at Home

Well, when someone dies at home, you might purchase a 仏壇 (ぶつだん – butsudan – altar). It’s bigger (and expensive), so you might be not able to buy it if you’re living in a small appartment. Anyway, you clean the 仏壇 (altar) and place flowers and food on it as an offering. Even though you don’t clean the 仏壇 (altar) every day, you must do it during お盆 because more people are expected to visit then. Possibly you might prepare less offering because your relatives bring something probably; a box of sweets, or a basket of fruits and other food. Smaller things are welcome because we are supposed to eat them later or take them back home with us. A photo of the “person” is put on the 仏壇 (altar), and a child might ask to eat the “person’s” food offering as he/she wants to eat immediately, lol.

Well, this event is certainly related to 宗教 (religion), but actually we enjoy お盆 for several reasons; we can take some 休み　（やすみ – yasumi – days off), meet with 親戚 (しんせき – shinseki – relatives) and enjoy talking about lots of things, including the “person”. Possibly you might not go to the 寺 (temple), or not even meet with your relatives. Some people only visit the 墓 (tomb), and they might talk to the “person” quietly. Regardless of how you spend お盆, perhaps you think of someone, and that will make the “person” happy.

Dancing the ぼんおどり

You might be looking forward to 盆踊り (ぼんおどり – bon-odori – bon dance). In some larger spaces such as 公園 (こうえん　- kouen – park) and グランド (gurando – grounds) of a school, people start to prepare 盆踊り. If you hear 盆踊り music from the window of your room in the evening, you may try to go outside so that you can see children starting to dance. Some of the girls wear 浴衣 (ゆかた – yukata – kimono for summer) and 下駄 (げた – geta – Japanese wooden sandals). Such girls look so pretty and cute. The background music is for children, and sometimes each is given a bag of sweets or snacks after dancing.

After the children’s version, the real (?) 盆踊り starts. Naturally it becomes dark outside, so the place is illuminated by lots of small lights or 提灯 (ちょうちん – chouchin – paper lanterns). People dance slowly around a 櫓 (やぐら – yagura – high wooden stage), and some people are on the stage for the dance. Possibly the empty 櫓 (the high wooden stage) only has a CD or cassette player to play the music for 盆踊り, but you can find a real 太鼓 (たいこ – taiko – drum) player and one or more singers on the stage. Anyone can participate in the dance circle, but you can enjoy just watching the dance as well. Lots of people often return to their home towns during お盆, so you may run into some old friends at the 盆踊り place.

More interesting 盆踊り may take place nearby. It’s 仮装盆踊り (かそうぼんおどり – kasou bon-odori – transformed bon dance). In most case, some 賞品（しょうひん – shouhin – prizes) are prepared like 米 (こめ – kome – rice) and 酒 (さけ – sake – Japanese rice wine, or some other alcoholic drink), etc. You can see different “people”; 侍 (さむらい – samurai), 白雪姫 (しらゆきひめ – shirayukihime – Snowwhite), 仮面ライダー (かめんライダー – kamen raidaa – literally, “masked rider,” a television program hero) and such characters from マンガ (manga) or TV. You may find the pretty princess was a man. Anyway, it’s really fun. Some of them have fancier and heavier costumes. They’re attractive and amuse the audiences, but the dancer has to struggle to continue to dance for a longer time with the tiresome costumes, lol.

Notes on Words with “お” to Indicate Politeness

As you may already know, we use words with “お” like “お盆”. Women tend to prefer to use “お” so that the expression becomes more polite. As far as thinking about お盆, generally we put “お” on more words regardless of gender, it seems.

• 盆 – お盆
• 寺 – お寺 (We don’t say “お神社” interestingly enough.)
• * 神社 – じんじゃ – jinja – shrine
• 墓 – お墓
• 経 – お経

Besides, we say “お坊さん (おぼうさん – obousan – priest)” in daily conversation instead of the word “僧侶”. The latter one is used as a written expression. The former one “お坊さん” comes from a word “坊主　（ぼうず – bouzu)”. It means the owner of the temple (“主” indicates “owner/master)” basically, but now using the word “坊主” is very rude to the priest, so you shouldn’t use it unless the priest is rude to you, lol.

Here are some everyday use words which are generally said with this polite “お” at the beginning:

• お茶 – おちゃ – o-cha – tea (generally refers to green tea)
• お金 – おかね – okane – money
• お米 – おこめ – okome – rice
• お手洗い – おてあらい – otearai – a rest room
• おじいさん – ojiisan – an old man
• おばあさん – obaasan – an old woman
• お見舞い – おみまい – omimai – visiting someone who is entering in a hospital
• お土産 – おみやげ – omiyage – souvenir(s)

By Shizu

Edited by the StudyJapanese Team

Make sure you know the Japanese name for all the languages you can speak. This is a pretty large list of languages, and should cover most needs.

Arabic – アラビア語 – arabiago

Bengali – ベンガル語 – bengarugo
Bulgarian – ブルガリア語 – burugariago

Cantonese – 広東語（かんとんご） – kantongo
Catalan – カタロニア語 – kataroniago
Croatian – クロアチア語 – kuroachiago
Czech – チェコ語 – chekogo

Danish – デンマーク語 – denmaakugo
Dhivehi – ディベヒ語 – dibehigo
Dutch  - オランダ語 – orandago

English – 英語（えいご） – eigo
Esperanto – エスペラント語 – esuperantogo
Estonian – エストニア語 – esutoniago

Finnish – フィンランド語 – finrandogo
French – フランス語 – furansugo

Gaelic – ゲール語 – geerugo
German – ドイツ語 – doitsugo
Greek – ギリシャ語 – girishago
Gujarati – グジャラート語 – gujaraatogo

Hebrew – ヘブライ語 – heburaigo
Hindi – ヒンズー語 – hinzuugo
Hungarian – ハンガリー語 – hangariigo

Icelandic – アイスランド語 – aisurandogo
Indonesian – インドネシア語 – indoneshiago
Italian – イタリア語 – itariago

Japanese – 日本語（にほんご） – nihongo
Javanese – ジャワ語 – jawago

Khmer – クメール語 – kumeerugo
Korean – 韓国語（かんこくご） – kankokugo
Kurdish – クルド語 – kurudogo

Lao – ラオ語 – raogo
Latin – ラテン語 – ratengo
Latvian – ラトビア語 – ratobiago
Lithuanian – リトアニア語 – ritoaniago

Malay – マレー語 – mareego
Malayalam – マラヤーラム語 – marayaaramugo
Maltese – マルタ語 – marutago
Mandarin – 北京語（ペキンご） – pekingo
Marathi – マラチ語 – marachigo
Mongolian – モンゴル語 – mongorugo

Nepali – ネパール語 – nepaarugo
Norwegian – ノルウェー語 – noruweego

Persian – ペルシャ語 – perushago
Polish – ポーランド語 – poorandogo
Portuguese – ポルトガル語 – porutogarugo
Punjabi – パンジャブ語 – panjabugo

Romanian – ルーマニア語 – ruumaniago
Russian – ロシア語 – roshiago

Serbian – セルビア語 – serubiago
Sinhalese – シンハラ語 – shinharago
Slovak – スロバキア語 – surobakiago
Slovenian – スラベニア語 – surabeniago
Spanish – スペイン語 – supeingo
Swahili – スワヒリ語 – suwahirigo
Swedish – スウェーデン語 – suweedengo

Tagalog – タガログ語 – tagarogugo
Taiwanese – 台湾語（たいわんご） – taiwango
Tamil – タミール語 – tamiirugo
Telugu – テルグ語 – terugugo
Thai – タイ語 – taigo
Turkish – トルコ語 – torukogo

Ukranian – ウクライナ語 – ukurainago
Urdu – ウルドゥー語 – uruduugo

Vietnamese – ベトナム語 – betonamugo

Here is a pretty vast list of Japanese names for various countries and regions. Should cover most countries you have only heard of

Afghanistan – アフガニスタン – afuganisutan
Albania – アルバニア – arubania
Algeria – アルジェリア – arujeria
America – アメリカ – amerika
Angola – アンゴラ – angora
Argentina – アルゼンチン – aruzenchin
Armenia – アルメニア – arumenia
Australia – オーストラリア – oosutoraria
Austria – オーストリア – oosutoria
Azerbaijan – アゼルバイジャン – azerubaijan

Bahrain – バーレーン – baareen
Bangladesh – バングラデシュ – banguradeshu
Barbados – バルバドス – barubadosu
Belarus – ベラルーシュ – beraruushu
Belgium – ベルギー – berugii
Bermuda – バミューダ – bamyuuda
Bhutan – ブータン – buutan
Bolivia – ボリビア – boribia
Bosnia and Herzgovina – ボスニア・ヘルツゴビナ – bosunia herutsugobina
Botswana – ボツワナ – botsuwana
Brazil – ブラジル – burajiru
Bulgaria – ブルガリア – burugaria

Cambodia – カンボジア – kanbojia
Cameroon – カメルーン – kameruun
Canada – カナダ – kanada
Cayman Islands – ケイマン諸島（しょとう） – keiman shotou
Chad – チャド – chado
Chile – チリ – chiri
China – 中国（ちゅうごく） – chuugokuChristmas Islan..Cocos
Colombia – コロンビア – koronbia
Cook Islands – クック諸島（しょとう） – kukku shotou
Costa Rica – コスタリカ – kosutarika
Cote d’Ivoire – コートジボワール – kootojibowaaru
Croatia – クロアチア – kuroachia
Cuba – キューバ – kyuuba
Cyprus – キプロス – kipurosu
Czech Republic – チェコ – cheko

Denmark – デンマーク – denmaaku
Dominica – ドミニカ – dominika

East Timor – 東（ひがし）チモール – higashi chimooru
Ecuador – エクアドル – ekuadoru
Egypt – エジプト – ejiputo
El Salvador – エルサルバドル – erusarubadoru
Estonia – エストニア – esutonia
Ethiopia – エチオピア – echiopia
Fiji – フィジー – fijii
Finland – フィンランド – finrando
France – フランス – furansu

Gabon – ガボン – gabon
Georgia – ジョージア – joojia
Germany – ドイツ – doitsu
Ghana – ガーナ – gaana
Gibraltar – ジブラルタル – jiburarutaru
Greece – ギリシア – girishia
Greenland – グリーンランド – guriinrando
Grenada – グレナダ – gurenada
Guam – グアム – guamu
Guatemala – グァテマラ – guatemara
Guinea – ギニア – ginia
Guyana – ガイアナ – gaiana

Haiti – ハイチ – haichi
Honduras – ホンジュラス – honjurasu
Hong Kong – 香港（ホンコン） – honkon Hungary – ハンガリー – hangarii

Iceland – アイスランド – aisurando
India – インド – indo
Indonesia – インドネシア – indoneshia
Iran – イラン – iran
Iraq – イラク – iraku
Ireland – アイルランド – airurando
Israel – イスラエル – isuraeru
Italy – イタリア – itaria

Jamaica – ジャマイカ – jamaika
Japan – 日本（にほん） – nihon
Jordan – ヨルダン – yorudan

Kazakhstan – カザフスタン – kazafusutan
Kenya – ケニア – kenia
Korea – 韓国（かんこく） – kankoku
North Korea – 北朝鮮（きたちょうせん） – kita chousen
Kuwait – クウェート – kuweeto
Kyrgyzstan – キルギスタン – kirugisutan

Laos – ラオス – raosu
Latvia – ラトビア – ratobia
Lebanon – レバノン – rebanon
Liberia – リベリア – riberia
Libya – リビア – ribia
Liechtenstein – リヒテンシュタイン – rihitenshutain
Lithuania – リトアニア – ritoania
Luxembourg – ルクセンブルグ – rukusenburugu

Macao – マカオ – makao
Macedonia – マケドニア – makedonia
Madagascar – マダガスカル – madagasukaru
Malaysia – マレーシア – mareeshia
Maldives – モルジブ – morujibu
Mali – マリ – mari
Malta – マルタ – maruta
Mauritania – モーリタニア – mooritania
Mexico – メキシコ – mekishiko
Micronesia – ミクロネシア – mikuroneshia
Moldova – モルドバ – morudoba
Monaco – モナコ – monako
Morocco – モロッコ – morokko
Mozambique – モザンビーク – mozanbiiku

Namibia – ナミビア – namibia
Nepal – ネパール – nepaaru
Netherlands – オランダ – oranda
New Caledonia – ニューカレドニア – nyuukaredonia
New Zealand – ニュージーランド – nyuujiirando
Nicaragua – ニカラグア – nikaragua
Niger – ニジェール – nijeeru
Nigeria – ナイジェリア – naijeria
Norway – ノルウェー – noruwee

Oman – オマーン – omaan

Pakistan – パキスタン – pakisutan
Palau – パラオ – parao
Panama – パナマ – panama
Papua New Guinea – パプアニューギニア – papuanyuuginia
Paraguay – パラグアイ – paraguai
Peru – ペルー – peruu
Philippines – フィリピン – firipin
Poland – ポーランド – poorando
Portugal – ポルトガル – porutogaru
Puerto Rico – プエルトリコ – puerutoriko

Qatar – カター – kataa

Romania – ルーマニア – ruumania
Russia – ロシア – roshia
Rwanda – ルワンダ – ruwanda

Samoa – サモア – samoa
San Marino – サンマリノ – sanmarino
Saudi Arabia – サウジアラビア – saujiarabia
Senegal – セネガル – senegaru
Singapore – シンガポール – singapooru
Slovakia – スロバキア – surobakia
Solomon Islands – ソロモン諸島（しょとう） – soromon shotou
Somalia – ソマリア – somaria
South Africa　－南（みなみ）アフリカ – minami afurika
Spain – スペイン – supein
Sri Lanka – スリランカ – suriranka
Sudan – スーダン – suudan
Suriname
Swaziland – スワジランド – suwajirando
Sweden – スウェーデン – suweeden
Switzerland – スイス – suisu
Syria – シリア – shiria

Taiwan – 台湾（たいわん） – taiwan
Tajikistan – タジキスタン – tajikisutan
Tanzania – タンザニア – tanzania
Thailand – タイ – tai
The Bahamas – バハマ – bahama
Tonga – トンガ – tonga
Tunisia – チュニジア – chunijia
Turkey – トルコ – toruko

Uganda – ウガンダ – uganda
Ukraine – ウクライナ – ukuraina
United Kingdom – イギリス – igirisu
United States – アメリカ合衆国（がっしゅうこく） – amerika gasshuukoku
Uruguay – ウルグアイ – uruguai
Uzbekistan – ウズベキスタン – uzubekisutan

Venezuela – ベネズエラ – benezuera
Vietnam – ベトナム – betonamu
Virgin Islands – バージン諸島（しょとう） – baajin shotou

Yemen – イエメン – iemen
Yugoslavia – ユーゴスラビア – yuugosurabia

Zambia – ザンビア – zanbia
Zimbabwe – ジンバブエ – jinbabue