Bon Odori

Originally created as a celebration to welcome spirits of the deceased, Obon is a Buddhist custom to celebrate loved ones that have passed on.  Every year in mid-August, families come together to celebrate life by cleaning the alters and graves of family members.  They also join together with the community in a special dance, called Bon Odori.  The dance isn't necessarily held during Obon, but usually pretty close to it.

Although it is almost a month early, our community held a Bon Odori tonight.  From 6 pm to 9 pm, a nearby park was filled with people dancing, eating, and having a good time.  The perimeter of the festival housed several booths offering food and seats.  In the center of the park was a two level tower that held a taiko drummer and bell ringer on the top level and dancers on the lower level.  There was a circle lined out with chalk around the tower to have a designated dance space.

The music was loud, and the energy high.  After walking the perimeter, my husband and son joined in the dancing.  My son was jubilant as he and daddy watched the dancers on the stage and mimicked their movements.  The dances are very simple and repetitive, similar to line dancing, so it was easy to catch on. 

It was still very hot, even after the sun went down, but that didn't damper the festive mood.  Although the reasons for the dance seem morbid, they are special to the Japanese culture and not at all sad in nature.