The Okinawans for instance are alone in Japan in observing the Chinese lunar calendar to celebrate New Year, Tomb-sweeping Day, Dragonboat Festival, and Mid-autumn Festival. Exactly as in Taiwan, the seventh lunar month is ghost month, when dead spirits are released into the world of the living and prayers are offered for the departed.
琉球人於舊曆年辭歲、清明掃墓、端午賽龍舟、中秋賞月，在採用西曆的日本，獨樹一幟。熱鬧的中元普渡，七月初一開鬼門、七月卅好兄弟收假等說法，也和台灣毫無二致。