A glossary of terms related to the four major Japanese life ceremonies: Kan-Kon-So-Sai.
Overview
Life Ceremony Terms
Kankonsosai refers to the four major Japanese ceremonial occasions that mark important milestones in life: Kan (coming-of-age ceremonies), Kon (wedding ceremonies), So (funeral ceremonies), and Sai (ancestor worship ceremonies). This dataset systematically organizes the key terminology and meanings used in these ceremonies.
life ceremonies
Japanese culture
rituals
ceremonial occasions
milestones
traditional culture
| code | slug | name | description | category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K01 | kan-coming-of-age | Kan (Coming-of-Age Ceremonies) | General term for ceremonies marking life transitions. | kan |
| K02 | seijinshiki | Coming-of-Age Ceremony | A ceremony celebrating reaching the age of 20. | kan |
| K03 | shichigosan | Shichi-Go-San | A traditional celebration of children's growth. | kan |
| K04 | kanreki | Kanreki (60th Birthday) | A longevity celebration for the 60th birthday. | kan |
| K05 | koki | Koki (70th Birthday) | A longevity celebration for the 70th birthday. | kan |
| K06 | kiju | Kiju (77th Birthday) | A longevity celebration for the 77th birthday. | kan |
| K07 | sanju | Sanju (80th Birthday) | A longevity celebration for the 80th birthday. | kan |
| K08 | beiju | Beiju (88th Birthday) | A longevity celebration for the 88th birthday. | kan |
| K09 | sotsuju | Sotsuju (90th Birthday) | A longevity celebration for the 90th birthday. | kan |
| K10 | hakuju | Hakuju (99th Birthday) | A longevity celebration for the 99th birthday. | kan |
| K11 | omiyamairi | Omiyamairi (First Shrine Visit) | The first shrine visit performed around 30 days after birth. | kan |
| K12 | okuizome | Okuizome (First Meal Ceremony) | A ceremony celebrating the start of weaning around 100 days after birth. | kan |
| K13 | hatsusekku | Hatsusekku (First Festival) | A celebration of the child's first seasonal festival. | kan |
| KN01 | kon-wedding | Kon (Wedding Ceremonies) | General term for marriage-related ceremonies. | kon |
| KN02 | yuinou | Yuinou (Betrothal Ceremony) | A ceremony where both families formally confirm the marriage engagement. | kon |
| KN03 | nyuseki | Nyuseki (Marriage Registration) | The procedure of submitting a marriage registration to legally establish marriage. | kon |
| KN04 | kon-yaku | Konyaku (Engagement) | The exchange of marriage promises. | kon |
| KN05 | shinzenshiki | Shinzenshiki (Shinto Wedding) | A traditional Japanese wedding ceremony held at a shrine. | kon |
| KN06 | kyokaishiki | Kyokaishiki (Christian Wedding) | A Christian-style wedding ceremony. | kon |
| KN07 | jinzenshiki | Jinzenshiki (Civil Wedding) | A wedding ceremony held outside shrines or churches. | kon |
| KN08 | butsuzenshiki | Butsuzenshiki (Buddhist Wedding) | A wedding ceremony held at a Buddhist temple. | kon |
| KN09 | shiromuku | Shiromuku (White Wedding Kimono) | A pure white bridal kimono worn in Shinto weddings. | kon |
| KN10 | kurobiki-furisode | Kurobiki Furisode (Black Bridal Kimono) | A black-ground furisode worn by brides in Shinto weddings. | kon |
| KN11 | montsuki-haori-hakama | Montsuki Haori Hakama (Formal Men's Attire) | Formal attire worn by grooms in Shinto weddings. | kon |
| KN12 | sansankudo | Sansankudo (Three-Three-Nine-Times Ritual) | A ritual of exchanging sake cups three times three in Shinto weddings. | kon |
| KN13 | yubiwa-koukan | Yubiwa Koukan (Ring Exchange) | The ritual of exchanging wedding rings. | kon |
| KN14 | hirouen | Hirouen (Wedding Reception) | A banquet to announce and celebrate the marriage. | kon |
| KN15 | shukushi | Shukushi (Congratulatory Speech) | A congratulatory speech given by a representative at the reception. | kon |
| KN16 | yokyou | Yokyou (Entertainment) | Entertainment performed by friends at the reception. | kon |
| KN17 | tegami-roudoku | Tegami Roudoku (Letter Reading) | A ritual where the couple reads letters of gratitude to their parents. | kon |
| KN18 | chuza | Chuza (Temporary Exit) | The bride temporarily leaving to change outfits. | kon |
| KN19 | oironaoshi | Oironaoshi (Outfit Change) | Changing outfits during the reception. | kon |
| KN20 | iro-uchikake | Iro Uchikake (Colored Bridal Kimono) | A colorful uchikake worn at the reception. | kon |
| KN21 | nijikai | Nijikai (After-Party) | An after-party held with friends after the reception. | kon |
| KN22 | kanji | Kanji (Organizer) | The person responsible for organizing the after-party. | kon |
| KN23 | shuugi | Shuugi (Wedding Gift Money) | Monetary gift given when attending a wedding. | kon |
| KN24 | imikotoba | Imikotoba (Taboo Words) | Words considered unlucky or taboo. | kon |
| S01 | so-funeral | So (Funeral Ceremonies) | General term for funeral and mourning ceremonies. | so |
| S02 | tsuya | Tsuya (Wake) | A ceremony to spend the last night with the deceased. | so |
| S03 | han-tsuya | Han-Tsuya (Half-Wake) | A shortened version of the wake. | so |
| S04 | tsuya-furumai | Tsuya Furumai (Wake Reception) | A meal served after the wake. | so |
| S05 | kokubetsushiki | Kokubetsushiki (Memorial Service) | A ceremony to bid final farewell to the deceased. | so |
| S06 | sougi | Sougi (Funeral Ceremony) | A religious ceremony to pray for the deceased's soul. | so |
| S07 | soushiki | Soushiki (Funeral) | A comprehensive term for all funeral rites. | so |
| S08 | shoukou | Shoukou (Incense Offering) | A ritual of lighting incense and praying for the deceased. | so |
| S09 | dokyou | Dokyou (Sutra Chanting) | Monks chanting Buddhist sutras. | so |
| S10 | chouji | Chouji (Condolence Speech) | Words mourning the deceased. | so |
| S11 | chouden | Chouden (Condolence Telegram) | A telegram of condolence sent by those unable to attend. | so |
| S12 | tamagushi-houten | Tamagushi Houten (Sakaki Offering) | A Shinto ritual of offering tamagushi. | so |
| S13 | kenka | Kenka (Flower Offering) | Offering flowers to remember the deceased. | so |
| S14 | hanaire | Hanaire (Flower Placing) | A ritual where attendees place flowers in the coffin at the memorial service. | so |
| S15 | shukkan | Shukkan (Coffin Removal) | Removing the coffin from the venue. | so |
| S16 | kasou | Kasou (Cremation) | Cremating the body. | so |
| S17 | shuukotsu | Shuukotsu (Bone Collection) | Collecting the bones after cremation. | so |
| S18 | kouden | Kouden (Condolence Money) | Monetary gift given by attendees to the bereaved family. | so |
| S19 | mosyu | Mosyu (Chief Mourner) | The person responsible for overseeing the funeral. | so |
| S20 | izoku | Izoku (Bereaved Family) | The family of the deceased. | so |
| S21 | shinzoku | Shinzoku (Relatives) | Blood relatives. | so |
| S22 | choumon | Choumon (Condolence Visit) | Visiting to mourn the deceased and console the family. | so |
| S23 | kaisousha | Kaisousha (Funeral Attendees) | People attending the funeral. | so |
| S24 | kaimyou | Kaimyou (Posthumous Buddhist Name) | The posthumous name given to the deceased by monks. | so |
| S25 | rinjuu | Rinjuu (Deathbed) | The moment just before death. | so |
| S26 | anchi | Anchi (Laying in State) | Temporarily laying the body in state. | so |
| S27 | noukan | Noukan (Coffining) | Placing the body in the coffin. | so |
| S28 | yukan | Yukan (Ritual Cleansing) | A ritual of pouring water to cleanse the body. | so |
| S29 | shonanoka | Shonanoka (Seventh Day Memorial) | A memorial service held on the seventh day after death. | so |
| SA01 | sai-ancestor-worship | Sai (Ancestor Worship Ceremonies) | General term for ceremonies worshipping ancestors. | sai |
| SA02 | oshougatsu | Oshougatsu (New Year) | New Year celebrations. | sai |
| SA03 | obon | Obon (Festival of Souls) | A summer festival to welcome and honor ancestral spirits. | sai |
| SA04 | ohigan | Ohigan (Equinoctial Week) | The seven days centered on the spring and autumn equinoxes. | sai |
| SA05 | urabon-e | Urabon-e (Bon Festival) | The formal name for Obon, derived from Buddhism. | sai |
| SA06 | setsubun | Setsubun (Bean-Throwing Festival) | The bean-throwing festival held around February 3rd. | sai |
| SA07 | shouryou | Shouryou (Ancestral Spirit) | The ancestral spirit that returns during Obon. | sai |
| SA08 | shouryou-dana | Shouryou-dana (Spirit Shelf) | An altar to welcome ancestors. | sai |
| SA09 | mukaebi | Mukaebi (Welcoming Fire) | A fire to welcome ancestral spirits. | sai |
| SA10 | okuribi | Okuribi (Sending-Off Fire) | A fire to send off ancestral spirits. | sai |
| SA11 | bon-odori | Bon Odori (Bon Dance) | A dance to console ancestral spirits. | sai |
| SA12 | shouryou-uma | Shouryou-uma (Spirit Horse) | Decorations serving as vehicles for ancestors. | sai |
| SA13 | kadomatsu | Kadomatsu (New Year Pine Decoration) | Pine decorations placed at entrances for New Year. | sai |
| SA14 | shimenawa | Shimenawa (Sacred Rope) | A straw rope indicating a sacred space. | sai |
| SA15 | shougatsu-kazari | Shougatsu Kazari (New Year Decorations) | General term for New Year decorations. | sai |
| SA16 | kagami-mochi | Kagami Mochi (Mirror Rice Cakes) | Rice cakes offered at the household shrine. | sai |
| SA17 | toshigami | Toshigami (New Year Deity) | The deity that visits during New Year. | sai |
| SA18 | sosenshin | Sosenshin (Ancestral Deity) | Ancestors deified as divine beings. | sai |
| SA19 | sorei | Sorei (Ancestral Spirit) | The spirit of ancestors. | sai |
| SA20 | soreisai | Soreisai (Ancestral Spirit Festival) | A Shinto ceremony to honor ancestral spirits. | sai |
| SA21 | mitama-matsuri | Mitama Matsuri (Spirit Festival) | A Shinto ancestor worship ceremony. | sai |
| SA22 | mitamaya | Mitamaya (Spirit House) | A household shrine for ancestral spirits. | sai |
| SA23 | ujigami | Ujigami (Clan Deity) | Ancestral clan spirits worshipped as deities. | sai |
| SA24 | danka | Danka (Parishioner) | A family belonging to a temple and requesting ancestral memorial services. | sai |
| SA25 | bodaiji | Bodaiji (Family Temple) | The family temple. | sai |
| SA26 | nenchuu-gyouji | Nenchuu Gyouji (Annual Events) | Annual events held throughout the year. | sai |
| SA27 | sairei | Sairei (Festival Rites) | Rites to worship deities, buddhas, and ancestors. | sai |
| SA28 | ochugen | Ochugen (Summer Gift) | The custom of giving gifts in July-August. | sai |
| SA29 | oseibo | Oseibo (Year-End Gift) | The custom of giving year-end gifts. | sai |
| SA30 | aramitama | Aramitama (Rough Spirit) | The period until 13 years after death. | sai |
| SA31 | nigimitama | Nigimitama (Calm Spirit) | The period from 13 to 33 years after death. | sai |