The Bon Odori Festival

Over a two day period July or August many Japanese American communities 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.

There is also a variety of other activities to take part in at the festival. Many of the Buddhist Churches hosting the Bon Odori Festivals will offer tours of the church and explanations of Buddhist practices. There are also performances throughout the day by community music groups including band music and taiko, Japanese Performance Drumming. Usually a variety of Japanese foods and crafts as well as games for both adults and children are also offered.

Bon Odori Festivals in the Santa Clara Valley include:

Mountain View Buddhist--415-964-9426

Palo Alto Buddhist Church--415-856-0123

San Jose Buddhist Church-Betsuin--408-293-9292

For an updated list of the dates of these Bon Odori Festivals check out: http://www.well.com/user/shinshu/

Further Reading:

Jake Batsell and Tracy Seipel, "A Stirring Celebration: South Bay Crowd
Warms up to Hot Music, Chili", San Jose Mercury News, Monday, 15 July, 
1996, Final Edition, Local Sec., p.1B.

Lisa Chen, "At Obon Festival, Sushi, Dancers, Music: Mountain View Event 
to Offer Glimpse of Japan", San Jose Mercury News, Wednesday, 14 July, 
1993, Peninsula/AM Edition, Peninsula Extra Sec., p.3.


Erin Kimura




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