- Essential Japanese Halloween Vocabulary
- Spooky Creatures and Supernatural Beings
- Japanese Verbs and Phrases for Halloween Activities
- Halloween Decorations & Events Vocabulary
- Cultural Insights: Halloween in Japan
Halloween in Japan has become increasingly popular, especially among younger generations. While the country doesn't traditionally celebrate Halloween the way Western cultures do, it has embraced costume parties, spooky events, and themed goods. If you're studying Japanese or living in Japan, learning Japanese Halloween vocabulary will help you join the fun and understand the cultural twist Japan puts on this eerie season.
In this article, we’ll explore essential Japanese Halloween vocabulary, example sentences, spooky phrases used in real-life situations, and cultural insights. Whether you're preparing for a Halloween party or just expanding your seasonal vocabulary, this guide has you covered.
Essential Japanese Halloween Vocabulary
Here’s a collection of the most commonly used Halloween-related words in Japanese. These will come in handy for conversations, event flyers, and themed merchandise in Japan.
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
Halloween |
ハロウィン |
harouin |
Ghost |
お化け / 幽霊 |
obake / yuurei |
Monster |
怪物 |
kaibutsu |
Witch |
魔女 |
majo |
Vampire |
吸血鬼 |
kyuuketsuki |
Zombie |
ゾンビ |
zonbi |
Pumpkin |
かぼちゃ |
kabocha |
Costume |
仮装 |
kasou |
Trick or Treat |
トリック・オア・トリート |
torikku oa toriito |
Haunted House |
お化け屋敷 |
obake yashiki |
Example sentence:
🎃 ハロウィンでは、子供たちが「トリック・オア・トリート!」と言ってお菓子をもらいます。
Harouin de wa, kodomotachi ga "Torikku oa toriito!" to itte okashi o moraimasu.
(During Halloween, children say "Trick or Treat!" and get candy.)
Spooky Creatures and Supernatural Beings
Japan has its own set of creepy creatures and urban legends that come alive during Halloween celebrations. Let’s explore some culturally specific Japanese Halloween vocabulary you won’t want to miss.
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
Yōkai (supernatural being) |
妖怪 |
youkai |
Spirit |
霊 |
rei |
Skull |
頭蓋骨 |
zugai kotsu |
Skeleton |
骸骨 |
gaikotsu |
Mummy |
ミイラ |
miira |
Demon |
鬼 |
oni |
Spider |
蜘蛛 |
kumo |
Bat |
コウモリ |
koumori |
Black Cat |
黒猫 |
kuroneko |
Jack-o'-lantern |
ジャック・オー・ランタン |
jakku oo rantan |
Example sentence:
👻 あのお化け屋敷には、本物の妖怪が出るという噂があります。
Ano obake yashiki ni wa, honmono no youkai ga deru to iu uwasa ga arimasu.
(There’s a rumor that real spirits appear in that haunted house.)
Japanese Verbs and Phrases for Halloween Activities
Talking about Halloween in Japanese isn’t just about nouns. You’ll need useful verbs and expressions to fully engage in spooky conversations or narrate your costume party experience.
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
To dress up |
仮装する |
kasou suru |
To scare |
驚かす |
odorokasu |
To decorate |
飾る |
kazaru |
To carve (a pumpkin) |
彫る |
horu |
To attend a party |
パーティーに行く |
paatii ni iku |
To wear a costume |
コスチュームを着る |
kosuchuumu o kiru |
To give out candy |
お菓子を配る |
okashi o kubaru |
To go trick-or-treating |
お菓子をもらいに行く |
okashi o morai ni iku |
Example sentence:
🕸 週末は仮装して、ハロウィンパーティーに行く予定です。
Shuumatsu wa kasou shite, harouin paatii ni iku yotei desu.
(This weekend, I plan to dress up and go to a Halloween party.)
Halloween Decorations & Events Vocabulary
Japan’s Halloween is all about aesthetics—think Disneyland’s Halloween parade or Shibuya’s infamous costume crowds. Here’s vocabulary related to decorations and events.
English |
Japanese |
Romaji |
---|---|---|
Decorations |
飾り付け |
kazaritsuke |
Halloween party |
ハロウィンパーティー |
harouin paatii |
Parade |
パレード |
pareedo |
Festival |
祭り |
matsuri |
Lights |
ライト |
raito |
Mask |
仮面 |
kamen |
Horror movie |
ホラー映画 |
horaa eiga |
Costume contest |
仮装コンテスト |
kasou kontesuto |
Example sentence:
👺 渋谷のハロウィンパレードには、何千人もの人が仮装して集まります。
Shibuya no harouin pareedo ni wa, nanzen nin mo no hito ga kasou shite atsumarimasu.
(Thousands of people gather in costumes for the Shibuya Halloween Parade.)
Cultural Insights: Halloween in Japan
Unlike Western countries where children go door-to-door trick-or-treating, Halloween in Japan is more of a social and commercial event. Major cities like Tokyo and Osaka host Halloween parades and cosplay gatherings. Stores decorate with pumpkins, and themed sweets flood supermarkets.
In Japanese, you’ll often hear terms like:
- 仮装大会 (kasou taikai) – costume competition
- ゾンビナイト (zonbi naito) – zombie night
- お化けイベント (obake ibento) – ghost event
Knowing the correct Japanese Halloween vocabulary helps you understand event flyers, follow social media posts, and even chat with locals about your costume choices!