The Summer Gift in Japan (Ochūgen)
- April Dykes
- 7月8日
- 読了時間: 6分
Ochūgen is a custom well-known among Japanese people, but less well-known to non-Japanese. So, let’s start with the most common question: What is Ochūgen? Ochūgen is a mid-year gift, or a summer gift, that is given to the people you feel a sense of gratitude towards, professionally (superiors) or personally (family, friends, etc). It is also a way to show consideration for the recipient's health for the hot summer ahead. While you can technically give someone a gift at any time, the timing for Ochūgen is intentional.
While Ochūgen is a Japanese custom, it's rooted in the Chinese philosophy of Taoism. According to the Seibu Sogo E-Department, the ancient Chinese calendar had three days that were special: January 15th - Shangyuan, July 15th - Zhongyuan, and October 15th- Xiayuan. “Zhongyuan is the birthday of the Earth Emperor, who was believed to have the divine virtue of forgiving sins, and it was considered a day of atonement, and it was believed that those who made offerings would be forgiven of their sins” (Seibu Sogo E-Department). This belief resulted in fires being lit on July 15th to worship the Earth Emperor and other gods. “...Chinese believers would light a fire all day on Ochūgen and confess their sins. After confessing by fire, they would give gifts to their neighbors as an atonement for their sins. This is said to be the origin of Ochūgen” (Shaddy).
In Taoism and Buddhism, there is a belief that spirits return to the land of the living during the 7th month of the year. During Ullambanae, the Ghost Festival or the Hungry Ghost Festival, people leave food offerings to appease unknown spirits and deceased loved ones due to the legend of Mu Nian. Mu Nian was a Buddhist monk who could see spirits. One day, he saw his deceased mother’s spirit, who was being tortured by hungry ghosts. After being told by Buddha that he should feed the hungry ghosts, Mu Nian followed his instructions and was able to help his mother. He continued to observe the day to feed hungry ghosts and free them from torture, and people have continued this tradition.
During the Asuka period, China introduced Buddhism as well as Ullambanae. Even before the introduction of Ullambanae, Japan had a mid-year memorial service to honor their ancestors. These customs were combined with the Obon festival and became a unique tradition in Japan. “During the Obon festival, there was a custom of handing over somen noodles, rice, salted mackerel, etc. as gifts, and it is said that this custom was combined with the Obon festival to become the ancient Japanese culture known as Ochūgen.” (Shaddy)
Seibu Sogo E-Department states that the customs of gift-giving during Ochūgen originate from the Obon practice of offering food to the spirits. Those food offerings turned into the custom of giving gifts. After Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar, Obon was moved to August. While it is still celebrated on July 15th in some regions, most celebrate Ochūgen on this day.
“In the Kanto region, it is generally from early July to around the 15th (new Bon), and in the Kansai region, it is generally from mid-July to around August 15th (old Bon).
Also, in the Kyushu region, it is from August 1st to 15th, and in Okinawa, it is from July 13th to 15th of the lunar calendar, so it is important to note that the timing varies depending on the region” (Shaddy). If you’re not sure when Ochūgen is in your region, check out the table below:
While the gift-giving tradition of Ochūgen has Chinese origins, it has become an integral part of Japanese culture, with roots dating back to the Muromachi period. The Ochūgen we know today was refined during the Edo period, with the usual gifts expanding beyond dried noodles and the tradition spreading beyond nobility. “It was around the 1890s that Ochūgen first became a common gift for business associates and people who have helped one another, as they are today. It is said that the custom of giving Ochūgen gifts became established every summer after department stores and other stores held big sales during the summer, when sales are low” (Shaddy).
As technology advanced, the items that were gifted began to change to reflect that. For example, in the 1930s, canned goods, sugar, and noodles were commonly delivered through department stores to Ochūgen, as there were no refrigerators available. In the 1960s, with the invention and widespread use of refrigerators, (cold) beer became a common Ochūgen gift.
Have you ever sent or received an Ochūgen before?
Yes
No
Today, the most common Ochūgen gifts that are sent along with a greeting card are:
Food
Fruits
Wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets
Tea: mugicha and other refreshing teas
Jelly
Noodles: somen
Beverages
Alcohol
Juice
Household items: towels, soaps, etc.
You can also browse in stores to find items marked “ 御中元” for gift ideas. As you’re choosing your gift, be sure to keep the recipient in mind. Would they prefer a traditional gift, such as the ones listed above, or a modern one? If their interests are more modern, Tokyo Treat suggests the following gifts:
Cooling goods
Skincare sets
In addition to making sure that you don’t send your Ochūgen too late, there is some etiquette that should also be at the forefront of your mind. Musubi Kiln places the average Ochūgen gift between ¥3,000 and ¥5,000, as spending too much money on your gift could cause the recipient to feel guilty or uncomfortable. In the past, it was a common practice to deliver your Ochūgen gift in person, and while you can still do so, a delivery service is also a socially acceptable means. If you’re going to deliver in person, let the recipient know in advance that you will be visiting.
Whether delivering your gift in person or through a delivery service, don’t forget the presentation. Traditionally, Ochūgen were wrapped in furoshiki, but today it is acceptable to give an Ochūgen if it is in a gift bag from the department store or establishment where you purchased it. “Gifts in sets of four are usually avoided because it is considered an unlucky number (the Japanese word for four is pronounced the same as the word for "death"). When handing over a present, both the gift giver and recipient use both hands” (Japan-Guide). You should also avoid gifting someone knives or scissors.
Another point to consider is whether the recipient is mourning. In Japan, the mourning period lasts 49 days after the death of a loved one. If you would like to send someone a gift who has recently lost a loved one, it is advisable to avoid sending it during the mourning period. If you would like to send an Ochūgen after the mourning period, you should check in with the recipient to see if they feel comfortable accepting the gift. If they are ok with accepting the gift, Shaddy recommends not using a gift tag. Instead of a gift tag, a plain white hosho paper should be used when writing the words ‘Greetings during this summer' or 'Greetings at the end of summer.’
If you’ve missed your region's Ochūgen period, you still have two summer gift-giving options: shochumimai, midsummer greetings, or zanshomimai, late summer greetings.
Shochumimai, midsummer greetings
“If you are sending a gift to someone in an area where the first Obon festival is taking place after the midsummer gift season has passed and before the beginning of autumn (around August 8th), it is common to send it as a ‘summer greeting.’ When sending a gift as a midsummer greeting, the inscription should read "midsummer greetings," and the gift should be wrapped in a paper with a red and white bow” (Shaddy).
Zanshomimai, late summer greetings
If you are sending it to someone in an area where the new Bon festival is celebrated after the beginning of autumn (around August 8th), it is best to send it as a "late summer greeting."
If you are sending it to an area where the old Bon festival is celebrated, such as Kansai or Kyushu, you should send it as a "late summer greeting" after August 15th. The inscription on the noshi paper should read "Late Summer Greetings," and a red and white bow-knotted Mizuhiki should be used” (Shaddy).
A final consideration if you are sending Ochūgen for the first time, if you give someone an Ochūgen, you are then obligated to give them an Oseibo, an end-of-the-year appreciation gift, in December, as it is considered good manners. If it’s not financially feasible for you to give both gifts, consider giving an Oseibo to express appreciation for the entire year.
While Ochūgen can seem intimidating, don’t lose the meaning of the event: to show appreciation. As long as you observe the etiquette and pick a gift that aligns with their likes and interests, they’re sure to love it.
IMAGE 5 https://shaddy.jp/chugen/fruits/
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