I’m a nurse in Japan. This week is Obon, so I went back to the town I grew up in.
Bread for ¥160. A ¥200 scratch card that won nothing. A ¥300 capsule toy that turned out to be real seeds. And lunch for the whole family, which my father paid for.
Nothing special happened today. That was the whole point.
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WHAT OBON IS
Obon is a few days in August when we believe the people we’ve lost come home for a while. Almost the whole country stops working.
Families clean the house, put out fruit and flowers, and light a small lantern to guide them in. On the last day, we see them off again.
My grandfather’s ashes are kept at an old temple in the hills above the city. It’s called eitai kuyo — the temple looks after them forever, so no one in the family has to carry it. Fewer of us are left to tend a family grave, so more and more Japanese families are choosing this.
My grandmother can’t walk far anymore, so we took her up in a wheelchair. We made it again this year.
Does your country have anything like Obon? And do you visit your family’s graves — when do you go? I read every comment.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 The day, in twenty-five seconds
00:26 Waking up in my childhood bedroom
02:46 A bakery where almost everything is ¥160
04:46 Breakfast with a friend I’ve known since primary school
06:26 A morning walk at 35°C
08:14 Ito Gofuku — the shop only small towns still have
11:14 DAISO, and a hunt for ume snacks
14:02 A ¥200 scratch card
15:06 Capsule toys, and what we got
16:22 The supermarket during Obon
17:26 Home, and what Obon actually is
17:58 Planting what came out of the capsule
18:46 Lunch with my family and my grandmother
21:42 Where my grandfather is
22:38 Answering a comment: the word nurses never say
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A few things people usually ask about
・The bakery opens at 7am and everything is baked before that. Most things are in the ¥100s.
・In Japan we don’t throw away the ends of a loaf. They’re sold cheaply, and people buy them.
・A loaf cut into four slices means each slice is over an inch thick. That’s how we eat toast here.
・Ito Gofuku is a small local clothing and household shop. You won’t find one in a big city.
・DAISO is a ¥100 shop. If you visit Japan, buy your seasonings there — same brands as the supermarket, in bottles small enough to take home.
・With capsule toys you turn the handle and you don’t get to choose. My friend got a toy dog shaped like warabi mochi. I got bok choy seeds.
・Unagi is freshwater eel, grilled with a sweet sauce. We eat it in summer to get our strength back.
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That heat, that's brutal!! Thankfully, I live in the UK, as it rains on and off during the summer months. If I were you, I'd be hiding under a rock just to escape the sun!! 🥵😊
Nurses are the best🎉🎉🎉
Thanks
Dzień dobry
Mamy nowy gorący Dzień
15.sierpnia w tym kraju było duże święto państwowe i religijne oba ważne dla tego kraju-religijne święto to związane z Maryją potocznie zwane "zielonymi świątkami" przynosi się do kościoła specjalnie wykonane bukiety i się je poświęca by następny rok był dobry a państwowe to Święto Wojska Polskiego ustanowione w dniu Zwycięskiej Bitwy Warszawskiej z 1920r kiedy niedawno po odzyskaniu niepodległości odpartą została armia czerwona ( rosyjska) tą bitwę nazywa się też CUDEM NAD WISŁĄ też mamy wolne do pracy są parady wojskowe przemówienia oficjeli spotkania weteranów promocje oficerskie i tym podobne , też mam wolne 😢 i w takie dni nam czarne myśli i jest mi poprostu źle a wracając do tematu w moim kraju i tradycji mamy święto zmarłych dwó- dniowe pierwszy bazywa się Dzień wszystkich świętych drugi dzień to dzień zaduszny są specjalne nabożeństwa na cmętarzach ludzie jeżdżą w strony rodzinne odziedzają krewnych i groby rodzinne składają ba grobach kwiaty i palą świece wcześniej trzeba groby posprzątać i uporządkować to święto jest w LISTOPADZIE 1I2 DNIA LISTOPADA
Na jesieni bardzo ładna tradycja palenie świec na grobach co wieczorem i w nocy daje efekt świetlne nazywane łuną cmentarną a pali się świecy by zachować pamięć o zmarłym i wskazć mu drogę w zaświaty jest jeszcze inne tradycje różne os regionu np nie używa się ostrych przedmiotów nie rozmawia się z innymi ludźmi je się potrawy z fasoli i tym podobne, kończę ten długi wpis jak zwykle dbaj o siebie nie przemęczaj się życzę Ci więcej czasu z rodziną pamięci o przodkach, zdrowia I szczęścia dla wszystkich. Pozdrawiam
K. 🎉❤
Love your vlog. Your English is great. Try it more often like this one, at the end of video to tell your stories more. As you see your viewers are from all over the world.
I am also a physician, was in ER for a couple of years in the US. Exactly, we never say a calm or slow day, it is a cursed word. Whenever we say it then the hell breaks loose quickly.
Please show us how the clinic nurse works in Japan, if possible. That would be very interesting.
The craziest thing Japanese put inside bread must be noodle, I'm sure it taste good though.🤣
Beautiful old temple's.
I’m glad you got a vacation and were able to go to your family home. Those are precious times.
Hi Miho-san! Thank you for the videos, I enjoy them very much! 😊
For sneezing we say "prosit" in Sweden. It is latin and mean "may it benefit you". We used to believe that the soul left the body temporarily when sneezing. 😅
We have a special day when we visit graves. "All saints day" is the first Sunday in November.
Take care Miho-san!
✨️🌷🌷🌷🩷🩷🩷🌷🌷🌷✨️
Hello, Miho. I came across your video and watched it. I thought it was quite good. I have been to Japan, and I loved every moment I was there. Your video gave me a chance to see more of it. I thought your English speaking segment at the end was exceptional. It sets you apart from other Japanese YouTubers. I will catch up with your other vlogs, and maybe comment, if you don’t mind. Take care.
You speak English very well! I have been trying to learn Japanese for about a year and you speak English far better than I speak Japanese.
Mihu, wishing you the most beautiful and peaceful Obon journey back to your hometown. ❤️ After all the care, kindness, and strength you give to others as a nurse in Osaka, you truly deserve this precious time with the people who have always been your greatest source of love and comfort—your parents. 🌸 May these summer days at home be filled with warm conversations, delicious homemade food, laughter, peaceful mornings, and countless little moments that become beautiful memories. There is something incredibly special about returning home, especially during Obon, when the heart naturally feels closer to family and to the place where our roots began. Take your time, rest your heart, enjoy every moment with your parents, and let yourself simply be their daughter for a while, away from the responsibilities of being a nurse. May your journey be safe and your days back home be filled with happiness, love, and blessings. You deserve every beautiful moment. ❤️🌸
😊
Here in Hawaii on the island of Oahu Obon season starts in early June and continues through August. I have not been to one yet this year. I am not Buddhist but I like to go and watch and go for the food.
Miho – It looks like you were having a great time with your hometown friends and family. Your English is very good. You are a good person. I really like your videos. 🙂
The ends of a bread loaf is called the heel, or a crust, or the butt (not as common). Those water guns have an interesting history. A guy where I used to work invented the big water gun now known as the Super Soaker. Probably had it made in Japan! I know he made a lot more money from that toy than he ever made working for us! BTW, my grandmother was a nurse, my mom was in charge of an ICU/CCU, and one of my daughters worked in an ICU/CCU in a trauma center until she got got a transfer to something less exciting, like the ER.
Congrats on your English! You’re doing good. As for the best friend for ages, I have a friend for decades now. Since 8th grade. We were just saying the other day how precious of a gift it is. Even if we go through a longer period of time we always pick up where we left off. You are blessed. 👭
Hi Miho, what a great video. I love you were able to spend such meaningful time with your family, thank you for sharing. Your English is very good I understood every word 👍😊
its Obon in japan and its hungry ghost month here in malaysia.. no worries your english is good .cheers
Love your video’s . I learn so much. Obon sounds very special. Wish we had something like it in New York. Thank you
In the bakeries and stores I’ve seen here in the States, the ends are included with the loaves of bread purchased.
Is everything at Daiso the same price in Japan? Here in California, items start at $1.50 and go up.
I’m of Chinese descent, and my siblings visit our parents’ graves twice a year, generally once in the spring and once in the fall.
I really love your channel! Saving money right now to visit Japan in a few years hopefully. Your english is great!
Love from Brazil <3
Good English Miho-san
Hi Miho. Spending time with your family and friends is really great. Thank you for sharing. Your English is great too!
Hi Miho, this the first video of yours I've seen. I had to check the temperature here in South Dakota. 79 and partly cloudy. As far as your morning routine it made me happy to see the natural you. That's what I've always preferred. Hope you enjoyed your family days. Thank You for being you.
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, YES "Obon festival" concluded Last week of July i think ( i volunteered setting up tents, Poles, etc), the Sawtelle "Japantown" area of West LA, here in calif. 17:04 17m54, Great video. all the best… Sat. AUG 15, 2026.
ドバイは今、夜中の3時半です。眠ろうとしながら、あなたの動画を見ています。これからもぜひ動画を続けてください！頑張ってください！応援しています😊
Your English is very good.
Hey,wow,first time I heard you say words in English.That’s good,that’s very good,my sister..little bye little in no time, you will be better. Anyway,yes,everybody has a day dedicated for people who died, and they was our elders…I actually go to cemetery and drink and eat ,around my relatives who died, and after 3 beers, I find myself sitting and speaking with them… for a while,before we get back home… You look good,Miho. Bye bye.Beautiful vlog.
Hello Miho !!! We have a store where I live called Ebisu. It has some really cool things there. Is that another chain from Japan? I assume it is. Another great video, just keep doing what you are doing 😊 that was the cutest sneeze ever, btw. Take care 😊
Excuse me, but how is Gofuku pronounced??