Moving to a new, foreign country is a daunting task which many expats find very overwhelming. At Asia Expat Guides, we understand your concerns and your specific needs as an expat. We routinely share articles and expat tips about moving to Asia at http://asiaexpatguides.com/expat-tips/. In this particular slide, we compile the introduction to Japanese summer customs.

1. Embrace the Japanese
Summer Customs
A Guide for New Expats in Japan
By: Asia Expat Guides

2. • Beautiful Japan is even more stunning during summer.
Packed with festivals, events and comfortably taking place
during the holidays, it is definitely a perfect time for family
trips and vacations especially for expats who want to explore
this lovely country! It also coincides with the New Year
holidays, so summer in Japan is the apt season for family
bonding, romance and many more!
• With emphasis on strengthening of family ties, paying visits
to family members and sending of gifts are a customary
practice. For the curious expats, here are some of the more
popular summer customs practised in Japan!

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This midsummer custom involves the giving of gifts or presents to people
whom one knows on a personal or business level. It is also way of showing
appreciation and gratitude among relatives who live far away from one
another, former students to their teachers, employees to their employers
or bosses and even between companies that are working together.
The gifts can be of anything and not restricted to specific items. This
practice is usually common at the beginning of June and you will be able
to spot many department stores and small shops organizing events for
Ochugen.
With the advent of technology, ordering gifts online has also become a
norm and the gifts can range from Japanese traditional goods to Western
confection like alcoholic beverages, noodles, bed sheets and detergent.
However, one should avoid buying footwear as a gift as this has a negative
connotation, whereby footwear conjures the image of being “stepped
on”. Additionally, watches and stationery should also be avoided as they
symbolize the idea of “working hard”, which are inappropriate gifts to
those that are superior or more important.

4. • This customary practice involves the handing
of midsummer greeting cards known as
Shochu mimai to friends and relatives. This
is an act of showing care for one’s health
during the hottest duration of the year. The
cards are usually given out to the intended
recipients from late July to the 7th August.
However, this practice can still continue
after that but it will be referred to as
Zansho mimai instead.

5. • The Obon period lasts between the 13th August and 16th August.
This is an important duration for the Japanese to pay respects to
the spirits of the ancestors.
• The locals will make a fire (Mukaebi) on the 13th August to
welcome the returning spirits and send them back on the 16th
August with another fire called the Okuribi. This customary
practice differs across different regions by adopting different
colors and manners. Some regions celebrate this in July
instead, while in some other regions, paper lanterns are sent down
the river instead of making a fire.
• In other places, a horse made of cucumber and a cow made of
eggplant is used as props to welcome and send them back.
Businesses usually cease to operate during these days as many
prefer to spend time with family members, relatives or simply to
enjoy their vacation.

6. Japan, like many Asian countries, is very rich in customs and traditions
that never fail to captivate and fascinate expats who have never lived in
Asia before. This thus might result in culture shock, as acts of gratitude
or appreciation are usually unspoken and expressed through actions. In
order to avoid culture chock and at the same time, know more about the
beautiful Japanese culture, let us at Asia Expat Guides make your stay a
memorable one! We will help you adjust to the local customs by
introducing you to the local food, places of interest, living area as well as
give you opportunities to mingle with the locals so that you will be able
to know more about the Japanese lifestyle. You can also sign up for a
professional Japanese language course so that you will be able to
communicate with the locals easily!
Don’t let culture shock affect your stay in your host county. With Asia
Expat Guides, you will not hesitate to call Japan your second home!

7. For more information about
being an expat in Asia, visit
http://asiaexpatguides.com