Bon Odori (盆踊り, Bon dance) is an event held during Obon (お盆), a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed spirits of one’s ancestors. From the custom came a kind of “family reunion” type thing, where many people returned to their ancestral family places to visit and pay their respects to the graves. Obon is also referred to as the Feast of Lanterns, which includes a dance, known as Bon Odori. Bon Odori is to express joy and gratitude for the gift of life, our heritage, and towards those we have taken for granted or have forgotten. A folk dance that varies from region to region in dancing style and musical accompaniment, Bon Odori has become known in the U.S. and Canada as a time of celebration and experiencing a part of the Japanese culture during the summer time. Many Buddhist temples during Bon Odori also hold a type of cultural and food fair, providing such things as taiko (Japanese drum) performances as entertainment to go along with the music, dancing, beer gardens, games and food. Some regions will have anything from martial arts demonstrations, vintage Japanese clothing for sale, ceramics, gifts, raffles, kori (flavored shaved ice), chicken teriyaki, niku-donburi (beef bowl), yakisoba (fried noodles, usually with chicken), somen (cold noodles in a soup broth), hotdogs, sake/beer/plum wine, etc.

Come decked out in your yukata and kimonos; enjoy the music, the food, the dancing….summertime!

List of Bon Odori Locations in the U.S. that are coming up. If you would like to find a location closer to you, please comment and I will look into it.