Mukaebi -- The Welcoming Fire of Late-Summer Obon

What Is Mukaebi (The Welcoming Fire)?

August 13th marks the first day of "tsukiokure Bon" (month-delayed Obon) in many regions of Japan, when a "mukaebi" (welcoming fire) is lit to invite ancestral spirits back home. Obon was traditionally observed on the 13th day of the 7th lunar month, but after Japan's calendar reform in the Meiji era, many regions shifted the observance to August 13th -- one month later on the modern calendar.

Why Is Obon Observed a Month Later?

Japan's 1872 calendar reform shifted the country from the lunisolar calendar to the solar calendar.

• Conflicts with farm work: July on the new calendar often overlapped with the busiest season for rice cultivation and other farm work in many regions
• A seasonal mismatch: the 7th lunar month roughly corresponded to modern-day August, so observing the custom closer to that original season felt more natural
• The result: Japan ended up split between regions that observe Obon in July on the new calendar (such as Tokyo) and the many regions that observe it a month later, in August

The Meaning Behind the Welcoming Fire

On the evening of the 13th, small bundles of hemp stalks or similar material are burned at the entrance to the home, with the smoke and flame believed to guide ancestral spirits safely back without losing their way. In some regions, Bon lanterns are lit instead to welcome them.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Learn about the mukaebi and Bon lantern customs passed down in your region
• Light a welcoming fire yourself and prepare to receive your ancestors
• Visit a family grave and express your everyday gratitude
• Talk with family about memories tied to Obon

An Evening of Welcoming Ancestral Spirits Home, Guided by Smoke

The flame and smoke of the welcoming fire form a warm, traditional Japanese custom for telling unseen ancestral spirits "welcome home." As dusk falls on August 13th, take a quiet moment watching the flame and reflect on your family's roots.