走馬灯(そうまとう)

そうまとう
noun
revolving lantern; life flashing before one's eyes
1. revolving lantern
A traditional lantern with silhouette figures that appear to move as the lantern rotates from the heat of a candle inside. Associated with summer festivals.
夏祭(なつまつ)りで走馬灯(そうまとう)を見(み)た。
I saw a revolving lantern at the summer festival.
走馬灯(そうまとう)の影絵(かげえ)が壁(かべ)にゆらゆら映(うつ)っていた。
Shadow figures from the revolving lantern flickered on the wall.
子供(こども)の頃(ころ)、走馬灯(そうまとう)の回(まわ)る姿(すがた)をずっと眺(なが)めていたのを覚(おぼ)えている。
I remember watching the revolving lantern spin for ages as a child.
2. life flashing before one's eyes; rapid succession of memories
A figurative expression for memories passing through one's mind in quick succession, especially in a moment of crisis. Derived from the way images spin past on the lantern.
人生(じんせい)が走馬灯(そうまとう)のように駆(か)け巡(めぐ)った。
My life flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.
事故(じこ)の瞬間(しゅんかん)、思(おも)い出(で)が走馬灯(そうまとう)のように浮(う)かんだ。
At the moment of the accident, memories flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern.
卒業式(そつぎょうしき)で、学校生活(がっこうせいかつ)の思(おも)い出(で)が走馬灯(そうまとう)のように頭(あたま)の中(なか)を巡(めぐ)った。
At the graduation ceremony, memories of school life flashed through my head like a revolving lantern.

Literally "running horse lantern" — the silhouette figures on the lantern appear to gallop as it spins. Sense 2 is the more commonly encountered usage in modern Japanese.

The figurative expression 走馬灯(そうまとう)のように (like a revolving lantern) is used to describe rapid flashbacks of memories, especially in dramatic or emotional moments. This is the Japanese equivalent of the English phrase "my life flashed before my eyes."

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 走馬灯(そうまとう)のよう (like a revolving lantern)
general
Added 2026.2.28 18:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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