1.
first death anniversary; first yearly memorial
A Buddhist memorial service held one year after a person's death. An important milestone in the traditional mourning cycle.
一周忌 marks one full year since death and is the first of the annual memorials.
MEMORIAL ANNIVERSARY SEQUENCE:
- 一周忌: 1 year (first death anniversary)
- 三回忌: 2 years ("third" by traditional counting)
- 七回忌: 6 years
- 十三回忌: 12 years
- 三十三回忌: 32 years (often the final formal service)
NOTE: The counting includes the year of death, so 三回忌 is held 2 years after death.
Related Words
Related:
三回忌 (second anniversary)