Is it part of the japanese culture to have a bereavement ceremony or ritual one year after the death of a parent or immedaite family member?

If so, what does the ceremony or ritual consist of?

The 1st year Obon (festival of the deceased - usually in mid-July) is particularily important, but I'm not sure what extra is done, other than the normal returning to visit and tidy up graves that's done every Obon. If I recall correctly, for the 1st New Years after death, traditional New Years cards don't get sent, but you may want to verify that.

Thank you hillsy11.....so the 1st year Obon takes place in the July following the first year of death, not the anniversary date of passing?

Yep, Obon is the same time every year, and I'm pretty sure the first one post-death is a little more special. Alas, I'm not sure what is done differently outside of the stuff that is normally done.

Autopsy, Obon is like the Day of the Dead in Mexico. I found this definition to the Obon fest. Sorry it doesn't answer your question about the anniversary of death.

The 13th through 16th of August is called obon in Japan. Obon is a Buddhist event and is one of the most important traditions for Japanese people. It is the period of praying for the repose of the souls of one's ancestors. People believe that their ancestors' spirits come back to their homes to be reunited with their family during obon.
People clean their houses and offer a variety of food such as vegetables and fruits to the spirits of ancestors in front of butsudan (Buddhist families altar). Butsudan is decorated with flower and chouchin (paper lanterns). On the 13th, chouchin are lit inside houses, and people go to their family's graves to call their ancestors' spirits back home. It's called mukaebon. In some regions, fires called mukaebi are lit at the entrances to homes to guide the ancestor's spirits.

On the 16th, people bring the ancestor's spirits back to graves, hanging chouchin painted with the family crest to guide the ancestors' spirits.

t's called okuribon. In some regions, fires called okuribi are lit at entrances of homes to send the ancestors' spirits. The air in houses and cemeteries are full of smoke and the smell of incense called senko at this time.

I think that's pretty accurate. It was around that time when we went to Japan to visit my grandfathers' tombstone.. and we would clean it off by poring water over it, then light incense and put some of his favorite food, tea and beer. Do a little prayer etc and then collect the food and you're off on the way.

Thank you hillsy11, the.redchicken and dr_tongues_toys for the detailed information on Obon.

Yes. It's been a while since I've been to a Buddist Memorial service, but the ceremony consists of the priest chanting and some big bell ringing, chime and gong hitting. Then, at a certain time during the ceremony, everyone lines up, and one at a time goes up to an incense buring altar, bows, drops in incense, then bows again. You go back to your seat and there is more chanting and ringing/gonging.

After the ceremony, there is a reception with a lot of food where everyone tells me how I was supposed to bow (cause I always do it wrong). That's how my family does it!