Want to learn more Japanese festival vocabulary? In the second part, we’ll be including the games and food unique to the festival season in Japan. Commonly found in food stalls and stands (屋台 やたい yatai), entertainment makes up a big part of enjoyment during festivals. People usually come with their friends and family to celebrate and soak in the atmosphere. This cheat sheet includes the pronunciation and meaning of 15 festival-related vocabulary, along with example sentences.
Goldfish scooping (金魚すくい きんぎょ kingyo sukui) is one of the most popular games that have been carried through generations of celebrations. Popular Japanese food such as octopus ball (たこ焼き takoyaki) and rice dumpling (団子 だんご dango) are also staples at festivals.
Do remember to check out part one of our festival vocabulary cheat sheet if you have yet to do so!
Game
Games commonly found in festivals in Japan:
Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
---|---|---|
輪投げ | わ な wanage | Ring toss |
金魚すくい | きんぎょ kingyo sukui | Goldfish scooping |
ヨーヨー釣り | つ yōyō tsuri | Water balloon fishing |
射的 | しゃてき shateki | Shooting gallery |
盆踊り | ぼんおど bon odori | Bon festival dance |
Food
Food commonly found in festivals in Japan:
Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
---|---|---|
焼きそば | や yakisoba | Fried noodles |
チョコバナナ | choko banana | Chocolate covered banana |
たこ焼き | takoyaki | Octopus ball |
わたあめ | wata ame | Cotton candy |
フランクフルト | furankufuruto | Frankfurt sausage |
かき氷 | ごおり kakigōri | Shaved ice |
団子 | だんご dango | Rice dumpling |
たい焼き | taiyaki | Fish-shaped pancake with red bean paste |
りんご飴 | あめ ringo ame | Candied apple |
ラムネ | ramune | Japanese soda |
Example Sentences:
After learning the terminologies, let us apply it in sentences to converse with others!
Example 1:
By saying ‘夏祭りで輪投げに挑戦する。‘
Pronunciation: Natsu matsuri de wanage ni chōsen suru.
It means ‘I try the ring toss game at the summer festival.’
Example 2:
By saying ‘焼きそばやたこ焼きを売っている屋台が並んでいる。‘
Pronunciation: Yakisoba ya takoyaki o utteiru yatai ga narandeiru.
It means ‘There are food stalls selling takisoba and takoyaki.’