Ka'boink

Bon Odori

On my way home from a normal day at work and I stumbled across this right next to my house, that's the thing I love about this country, just when you thought you knew what to expect...

folks in kimonos and all the get-up, the dance looked very easy but old Mrs 2 left-feet here still couldn't pull it off, maybe I wasn't wearing the right shoes...

Expanation: over a two day period July or August many Japanese celebrate the Bon Odori Festival. This Buddhist dance festival is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward their ancestors. Bon Odori originates from the story of a Buddhist disciple who envisioned his deceased mother in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts where she was endulging in her own selfishness. Greatly disturbed, he went to Buddha and asked how he could release his mother from this realm. Buddha advised his disciple to perform some charitable act in memory of his mother. The disciple did this and, thus, saw his mother's release for the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. He also began to see the true nature of her past unselfishness and the many sacrifices that she had made for him. The disciple, happy because of his mother's release and grateful for his mother's kindness, danced with joy. From this dance of joy comes Bon Odori or Bon Dance, a time in which our ancestors and their sacrifices are remembered and appreciated.
Today the Bon Odori Festival participants continue this custom as they dance in traditional Japanese dress, including kimonos, yukata (cotton kimonos), and hopi coats (short coats styled like a kimono top). The dances may include the use of fans, castinets, straw hats or cotton towels and recall both daily life in Japan and rememberance of ancestors.

posted by Katie @ 9:42 am