A Real Japanese Family’s Obon 🇯🇵 | The Vlog I Could Barely Film

Obon is an important Japanese tradition of welcoming our ancestors and deceased loved ones, while expressing our gratitude and paying our respects. This year, our family returned to our hometown to honor my mother, who passed away last year. We visited her grave, shared a meal with relatives at my family home, and spent time with family members we rarely get to see. However, this was not the peaceful Obon vlog I had originally planned. My son has a disability and finds it difficult to stay calm in unfamiliar surroundings, so he needs constant supervision. With sleep deprivation and exhaustion taking their toll, there were many moments I was unable to film. A few days later, I prepared shojin ryori, a traditional Buddhist-style meal, for my mother at home. I made simmered vegetables, sunomono, clear soup, and rice. I also offered her a mikan, because they were her favorite. This vlog documents both Obon in Japan and our everyday life—days that do not always go as planned. Thank you so much for watching. #japanvlog #lifeinjapan#JapaneseCulture #ObonInJapan