Nenbutsu no Kuchidome (The Day Chanting for Ancestors Quiets Down)

What Is Nenbutsu no Kuchidome?

December 16th is regarded as "Nenbutsu no Kuchidome" (literally, "silencing the nenbutsu chant"). This is a traditional Japanese custom: because Toshigami-sama, the deity who visits homes at New Year, is said to dislike the nenbutsu, people stopped chanting it from this day until "Nenbutsu no Kuchiake" (reopening the nenbutsu) on January 16th. The date varies somewhat by region, and the custom is rarely observed today. It reflects the Japanese tradition of honoring both Shinto deities and the Buddha.

What Is "Nenbutsu"?

"Nenbutsu" refers to a Buddhist practice of holding the Buddha in one's heart and chanting his name aloud. In the Jodo and Jodo Shinshu schools, the phrase "Namu Amida Butsu" is chanted (Nichiren Buddhism's "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo" is called the daimoku, not the nenbutsu). The nenbutsu, popularized by influential monks such as Honen and Shinran, spread widely among ordinary people as a teaching of salvation accessible to anyone—"simply chant, and you will be saved"—without requiring difficult scholarly study.

Year-End Buddhist Observances and Traditions

• Susuharai (from December 13th): The year-end deep clean, which also includes tidying temples and shrines.
• Jodo-e (December 8th): A memorial service celebrating the day the Buddha attained enlightenment.
• Joya no Kane (December 31st): Temple bells are rung 108 times to dispel worldly desires and welcome the new year.

Cherishing Local Traditions

Many community-rooted traditions like Nenbutsu no Kuchidome are gradually disappearing due to declining birthrates and rural depopulation. Taking part in festivals and events held by your local shrine, temple, or community association is a meaningful way to help pass these cultural practices on to the next generation.