Bon Odori festival

[sumire chan]

konnichiwa!!i just want to know what is the meaning of Bon Odori festival? i've been there where it was held at Penang,Malaysia a few weeks ago.i was so happy watching the Japan's dance and they also wearing the kimono and yukata. kawaii ne.. after that, looking at the beautiful fireworks..hihih..i feel like i'm in Japan at that time. i was really excited on that day.so, i want to know what is the history of this festival??onegai shimasu..

 

[Dogen Z]

Obon

Here's what I got from an old Japanese language text book (Japanese for Everyone--highly recommended by the way).

[Obon is a Buddhist festival for the veneration of one's ancestors. At these times schools, factories and businesses close down for a week or so and most people return to their home towns to celebrate. Because of the masses of people on the move, transportation systems are terribly over-crowded.

The festival is centered around July 15th (or in some areas August 15th). This is a time when spirits of the dead return to this world and people visit the family graves to pay respect.

As a means of consoling the spirits, people gather at temples or other open spaces and dance Bon odori. The songs to which people dance come from all over the country, and each has its own particular dance movements. In modern times the religious flavor has been lost and Bon odori is regarded as a form of recreation intended as a relief from the summer heat. ]

It's now just a distraction to make the summers more bearable like the hanabi festival and other matsuri. (Yep, yep, those girls in yukata sure look pretty. )

 

[Mars Man]

Yes...that is how I understand it as well. The dancing, when in the creating period--it isn't that old (relatively)--was to appease the souls of those ancestors who came back at Obon. Of course Shinto festivals were in place at this general period as well and it just kind of matched in a way.

Now, the dancing is more of a cultural thing that an overtly religious thing. It is also a time and reason for drinking and making merry--which never miss to do at that time.

Here in Matsumoto, we have a fairly big street Bon dance--the Matsumoto Bon Bon--with its own song and music. There are usually some 30 large groups of dancers, usually made up of company employees or public service institutions which make their way around a set-out pattern of 'closed-to-traffic' streets on the early evening of the first Saturday in August of each year.

The number of people who come to see it from outside of Nagano, seems to be fairly large too. I have seen it three times, and kind of danced along with it once...but too many people, so I don't these days. (plus, less crazy than what I used to be...)

 

[Buntaro]

Hi everybody!

I prefer this version of the story: A man had just learned his previously deceased mother finally finished her time in Buddhist Purgatory, and had moved on to Buddhist Heaven. He was so happy, he broke out into impromptu dancing, and started the Obon dancing custom. It is said Obon is a time where people dance with joy at the thought of souls entering into Buddhist Heaven.

(Mars Man san! Is your Go game improving...?)

 

[Mars Man]

Hi everybody! . . .
(Mars Man san! Is your Go game improving...?)

Hi Buntaro !! I like that very folkish version too. Tales of that nature always have a nice ring to them, and feel very friendly to boot.

I'm afraid my Igo has been on hold since last fall. Maybe this summer I can do more on that.

 

[-Rudel-]

From what I understand. It is to honor the deceased ancestors, and welcome them into the homes (family wise.)

In Okinawa , a whole week of EISA from elementry schools to dance teams perform all over on the main streets.

 

[sumire chan]

arigato gozaimasu..now i understand what exactly Bon Odori festival is.. minna san, arigato!

 

[pipokun]

Ondo is the dancing music for bon odori.
99.99% of ondo are downbeat musics.

Yellow Submarine ondo, though I've never danced to the ondo. John Lennon would be surprised to hear the music from the no-heaven.

Doraemon Ondo 2007
When I was a kid, I liked the former Doraemon ondo.