August in Japan

August is the hottest month in Japan. Summer vacation at school begins from end of July to end of August. And most company give summer holiday around middle of August which called Obon.

Event in August

Early August : 3 great summer festivals in Tohoku

• 2nd.Aug - 7th.Aug : Aomori-Nebuta-Matsuri(青森ねぶた祭)
• 3rd.Aug - 6th.Aug : Akita-Kanto-matsuri(秋田竿燈まつり)
• 6th.Aug - 8th.Aug : Sendai-Tanabata-matsuri(仙台七夕まつり)

Tanabata is famous event of summer in Japan.Tanabata is to celebrate the meeting of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair) with tanabata-kazari(七夕飾り).Tanabata-kazari is decorative bamboo with tanzaku(短冊), a colorful paper. People write down their desire in it.By the legend of Tanabata, when the Milky Way separates vega and Altair, and those lovers can meet just once a year on 7th of 7th month in old lunar calendar.
Caution : Tanabata is usually held on 7th of July.But Sendai-Tanabata is held in August.

Middle of August : The Bon Festival

Bon (also called Obon) is a Buddhist ceremony held on July 15, according to the lunar calendar, when prayers are offered to ancestors. Obon is set in middle of August in present calendar.