1.
wake; vigil; all-night watch over the deceased
A ceremony held the night before a funeral where family and friends gather to mourn the deceased and keep watch through the night. In modern practice, it is often a shorter evening gathering.
Usage
The traditional 通夜 involved keeping vigil through the entire night, but modern 通夜 (called 半通夜, literally "half wake") typically lasts only a few hours in the evening. It is held the day before the 葬儀 (funeral service).
Common collocations
- 通夜に参列する (to attend a wake)
- 通夜を行う (to hold a wake)
- 通夜振る舞い (food and drink served at a wake)
- お通夜 (wake, with polite prefix)
Cultural note
In Japanese funeral customs, the 通夜 is typically followed by the 葬儀・告別式 (funeral and farewell ceremony) the next day. Attendees usually bring 香典 (condolence money) in a special envelope.