Average planned Obondama gift budget of seniors grandchildren 2016-2019, by gender

According to an online survey of 2019, seniors aged between 55 and 74 years old planned to give an average amount of 6,100 Japanese yen as an Obondama gift to their grandchildren. This figure was the highest during the surveyed period. In the most recent year, men planned to give more money than women. Recognition of the word "Obondama" has increased in recent years as the custom has spread from Yamagata Prefecture to other parts of Japan. Similar to the Otoshidama given by adult relatives to children on New Year's Day, Obondama is a money gift that can be given during the Buddhist Obon festival in summer. As families tend to gather during this time, grandparents have the opportunity to give presents to their grandchildren.