Typically, the Japanese see summer as a time to tell ghost stories, maybe hoping a spine chilling tale will help cool hot summer nights. Groups of people gather in large circles of candles and go around telling ghost stories. After each story is told one candle is put out until there is only one left, then they tell a story of a ghost who is said to appear when she is called and after they say her name the last candle is put out, plunging the group into darkness. Usually this is the time when someone screams or scares the rest of the group.

Some Japanese folktales and ghost stories center around water because it is viewed as an avenue to reach the spirit world. One of the most famous ghost stories involves a well at Himeji Castle. Okiku was a maid who worked for a samurai at Himeji Castle. The samurai thought she was very beautiful and tried to seduce her but she refused him. He then secretly broke one of his family’s ten precious plates, knowing that she would be blamed. A servant is usually punished for breaking something so precious, but the samurai said he would forgive Okiku if she would become his lover. She refused again and he killed her in a rage and threw her body into a well.

Okiku became a vengeful spirit and in the middle of the night she would rise out of the well and count the remaining plates until she got to the missing plate, then she would utter an unholy shriek. In some versions of this story Okiku gets her revenge by driving the samurai insane. The well is now a famous tourist attraction, although it is closed at night.

There are many types of ghost and spirits in Japanese folklore. They believe that someone who dies an unexpected or violent death becomes a ghost known as a yurei. Yurei didn’t have time in life to resolve whatever strong emotions they were dealing with and will continue to haunt the living until their conflict is resolved. Originally, yurei didn’t look that different from living people, but when they appeared in kabuki plays and paintings they were given distinct characteristics.

Yurei often are wearing white, the color of death, to signify the white burial outfit first used during the Edo period. They usually have dark black holes for eyes or their eyes are covered by long black hair. Since it was believed that hair kept growing after death, ghosts often have unruly black manes. Their arms are outstretched but their hands hang lifelessly from their wrists. Yurei are often accompanied by hitodama, known as floating flames or will o’ wisps, in spooky colors. Finally classical yurei float and do not use their feet, in kabuki plays they used an extra long kimono to show this detachment from the earth.

One specific type of yurei is the onryo, which is a spirit driven by vengeance. These spirits are popular in modern Japanese horror movies like The Ring and The Grudge. There are also many stories of female ghosts that seduce living men, usually taking a lonely widower for a lover.

Another type common in folklore is ubume, a mother who died comes back to care for her children, often visiting sweet shop owners so they may buy candy for their children. Children themselves are said to come back and cause mischief after they have died. They are called zashiki-warashi and are considered to bring a household good luck if they are treated correctly.

Obon is a three day Buddhist festival held in the middle of July or August where people honor the memory of their ancestors and deceased relatives, especially those that passed away in the previous year. During the Obon festival it is believed that the spirits of the dead return to earth to visit their living family members. It is such an important event that most people get the day off of work so they can be with their family.

To prepare for Obon, the Japanese clean their homes and decorate their loved ones’ graves with fruits, vegetables, cakes and flowers. People put lanterns on the graves and their houses or light bonfires to guide their ancestors’ spirits back home. Spirit alters are put together at home, usually with a picture of the deceased, incense, lanterns and offerings of favorite foods all set on top of a woven mat. It is very important for the family to pray for their deceased relatives during this time.

At the end of the Obon festival people light paper lanterns, some with the names of the deceased written on them, and send them adrift on a river or ocean. It is a beautiful sight and is meant to guide the spirits back to the afterlife.

The Bon dance is a traditional dance that is performed differently in different areas of Japan. It is meant to be a joyful expression of life and respect for the dead. The Japanese dress in ceremonial kimonos and yukatas and dance in large circles, sometimes using fans or towels as props. The Obon festival is even celebrated in certain parts of America that have large Japanese populations.

Nowadays the Japanese have started embracing Halloween as a fun holiday. Big theme parks have started having spooking haunted houses. Tokyo Disneyland has Halloween parades as part of their October celebrations and at the Japanese Universal Studios they display giant orange pumpkins, which are a bit rare in Japan.

Japanese stores now sell orange and black Halloween decorations and an assortment of candy. Although the Japanese do not participate in trick or treating they do have fun costume parties and a lot of children dress up in cute costumes for Halloween events. In the land of cosplay, elaborate Halloween costumes are worn by teenagers going to costume parties.

This Halloween, think of Japan and hang some lanterns, watch some scary movies, or tell some ghost stories. Leave a comment below and tell me your Halloween plans or your favorite costume.