We ventured out one Saturday in August to watch the dancers for the Japanese Holiday Obon. There were thousands of spectators. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the deceased spirits of one’s ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors’ graves, and it’s also when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.
These pictures are wonderful! You really captured a lot of energy. It looks like a fun holiday event.