Trying to figure out the separation of lantern festivals between the Japanese and Chinese.
The Japanese light their lanterns on Obon or just Bon, a Buddhist holiday that honors the spirit's of one's ancestors. These festivities include music, dance, martial arts, lanterns, and crafts.
At dusk the lanterns are lit and placed into Japanese Garden pond and the Frog Pond creating a vision of peacefulness and a moment to commemorate the dead.