Obon Festival

Last night I attended Shikaoi's yearly Obon Festival. Held every summer, the festival's purpose is to welcome and remember departed ancestors. During this two week period most communities in Japan hold an Obon festival, the exact timing of which depends on each specific community. Each community also carries on different local traditions. Shikaoi holds a large ritual dance to call the ancestors down from heaven. The atmosphere was very celebratory. Besides having an opportunity to see many of my students and Shikaoi acquaintances, many children I did not know were present. This is because Obon season is traditionally a time for people living away from home to return. Japanese airports this time of year are filled with people making the trip home for a couple of days to participate in their on local Obon festival and also visit their ancestors grave. The weather could not have been better this year; it cooled down to a warm 24C and everyone felt comfortable and refreshed. I am so use to Albertan summers where after the sun goes down (much later than 7 PM of course) it can get very cold. Especially sitting on the hill during Folk Fest. Afterwards I couldn't help to think this was the quintessential summer event. Nothing could possibly make this season feel more like summer than this type of festival. I apologize for my scant description but it's too hot in my house this afternoon to compose a thesis. I have included many pictures to hopefully make up for this vacuum.



The event started promptly 5:00 PM with a loud explosion of fireworks singling to the town the start of the festival. At 6:00 PM there was a sort of a children's' Obon dance before the adults began the main Obon dance at 7:00 PM. Many children were wearing beautiful summer yukatas and jinbes, making for a very colourful sight as they danced under paper lanterns.


The main dance was composed of just under 500 participants with many more watching. Many different organizations were involved, each creating elaborate costumes and a special dance especially for the festival. I have included some examples below that reflect the variety of the event.








My grade six class at Shikaoi Elementary School, along with their families, also entered a very large team.


I was also especially impressed with the live music played in the center of the large circle. They had drums up top and live singers below that increased the celebratory atmosphere of the event.



The Board of Education also entered an Obon team. I have included two pictures below. To expand them in a new window just click them. The dancing itself ended at 8:30 PM and then the whole Board of Education office went to Tori-sei. Most other teams also had there own parties to go to. It was a very busy summer night in Shikaoi.