Bon no Iri (The Start of Obon)

What Is Bon no Iri?

July 13th marks "Bon no Iri," the first day of Obon, Japan's traditional festival honoring the spirits of ancestors. On this day, families have long observed the custom of lighting a small "mukaebi" (welcoming fire) at the entrance of the home to guide ancestral spirits back for their annual visit.

Historical Background of Bon no Iri

Obon is a fusion of Buddhist tradition and Japan's ancient ancestor-worship beliefs. Historically, it was observed from the 13th to the 16th of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Today, depending on the region, it is held either in July (using the modern calendar date) or in mid-August (following the old lunar-calendar timing, shifted by about a month).

• Main custom: Lighting a mukaebi (welcoming fire) to invite ancestral spirits into the home
• Regional timing differences: Some areas, including Tokyo, observe Obon in mid-July, while most of the country observes it in mid-August
• Related custom: At the close of Obon, families light an "okuribi" (sending-off fire) to guide the spirits back to the other world

Fun Facts About Obon

• Shoryo-uma (spirit animals): Families craft small "horses" and "cows" out of cucumbers and eggplants with legs made from chopsticks or toothpicks. These are placed on the household Buddhist altar as vehicles for ancestral spirits — the cucumber horse for a swift journey home, and the eggplant cow for a slow, leisurely return.
• Bon Odori (Obon dance): The community dances held across Japan during Obon season are believed to have originally been performed as part of the rituals to welcome and send off spirits.
• Regional variety: The customs surrounding Obon vary considerably from region to region, with many local variations passed down through generations.

How the Welcoming Fire Is Lit

The mukaebi is traditionally lit on the evening of the first day of Obon as a beacon showing the spirits the way home. Customs vary by region, but a common method is to break up "ogara" (peeled hemp stalks), pile them on an unglazed clay dish called a hōroku, and light them at the gate or entrance.

• Bon lanterns: Obon lanterns also serve as a guide for the spirits, and some households hang a lantern instead of lighting a fire — often an electric one nowadays, to avoid fire risks.
• Sending off: The spirits are sent off with an okuribi on the last day of Obon, usually the 16th (the 15th in some areas).
• Not universal: The Jōdo Shinshū school of Buddhism does not practice welcoming or sending-off fires.
• When it is held in July: July observance is found in Tokyo and parts of Kanagawa and Shizuoka; most other regions light the mukaebi on August 13th.

How to Spend This Day

July 13th is a day for reflecting on family and those who came before us. Whether it's visiting a family grave, tidying a home altar, or simply taking a quiet moment to remember loved ones who have passed, it's an occasion many cultures around the world can relate to in their own way.