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Illuminated by the Albuquerque Bridge, Japanese volunteers place candle lit lanterns into the Sasebo River during the Obon festival.

Kyoto's Gozan no Okuribi bonfire lit during the Obon festival.

An Obon offering.

O-bon (お盆, O-bon^?) or only Bon (盆, Bon^?) is a Japanese Buddhist holiday to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist festival has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people from the big cities return to their home towns and visit and clean their ancestors' graves. Traditionally including a dance festival, it has existed in Japan for more than 500 years. It is held from July 13 (August 13 according to the lunar calendar still observed in many regions) to July 15 ("Welcoming Obon" and "Farewell Obon" respectively) in the eastern part of Japan (Kantō), and in August in the western part. In recent years, however, most parts of Tokyo, and by extension, the media, hold Obon in August to coincide with the summer holiday period. Obon shares some similarities with the predominantly Mexican observance of el Día de los Muertos, such as customs involving family reunion and care of ancestors' grave sites. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 921 KB) Illuminated by the Albuquerque Bridge, Japanese volunteers place candle lit lanterns into the Sasebo River during Japans annual Obon festival, Sasebo, Japan, August 15, 2004. ... Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 921 KB) Illuminated by the Albuquerque Bridge, Japanese volunteers place candle lit lanterns into the Sasebo River during Japans annual Obon festival, Sasebo, Japan, August 15, 2004. ... Illuminated by the Albuquerque Bridge, Japanese volunteers place candle lit lanterns into the Sasebo River during the Obon festival. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1800x1350, 377 KB) 京都、五山送り火 大文字。2005å¹´8月16日、船岡山公園（京都市北区）で投稿者撮影 Gozan-no-okuribi Daimonji (Letter 大) Kyoto, Japan. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1800x1350, 377 KB) 京都、五山送り火 大文字。2005å¹´8月16日、船岡山公園（京都市北区）で投稿者撮影 Gozan-no-okuribi Daimonji (Letter 大) Kyoto, Japan. ... Daimonji Gozan no Okuribi (五山送り火), more commonly known as Daimonji-yaki (大文字焼き), is one of the iconic festivals of Kyoto, Japan. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1922x1442, 1349 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bon Festival Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1922x1442, 1349 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bon Festival Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Sacrifice (from a Middle English verb meaning to make sacred, from Old French, from Latin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) is commonly known as the practice of offering food, or the lives of animals or people to the gods, as an act of propitiation or worship. ... A silhouette of a Buddha statue at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ... The English word spirit comes from the Latin spiritus (breath). // The English word spirit comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning breath (compare spiritus asper), but also soul, courage, vigor, ultimately from a PIE root *(s)peis- (to blow). In the Vulgate, the Latin word translates Greek (πνευμα), pneuma (Hebrew (רוח) ruah), as... An ancestor is a parent or (recursively) the parent of an ancestor (i. ... Family Reunion is a 35 second song by blink-182 consisting entirely of profanity. ... For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... is the 194th day of the year (195th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 225th day of the year (226th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Kantō region, Japan. ... For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Day of the Dead (disambiguation). ...

Obon is a shortened form of the legendary Urabonne/Urabanna (Japanese: 于蘭盆會 or 盂蘭盆會, urabon'e). It is Sanskrit for "hanging upside down in hell and suffering" (Sanskrit:Ullambana). The Japanese believe they should ameliorate the suffering of the "Urabanna". For other uses, see Legend (disambiguation). ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... For other uses, see Hell (disambiguation). ... The Ullambana Sutra is a Mahayana sutra which consists in a brief discourse given by the Gautama Buddha principally to the monk Mahāmaudgalyāyana (Mokuren in Japanese) on the practice of filial piety. ...

Bon Odori originates from the story of Mokuren, a disciple of Shakyamuni, who saw a vision of his deceased mother in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts where she was indulging in her own selfishness. Greatly disturbed, he went to the Buddha and asked how he could release his mother from this realm. Buddha instructs him to make offerings to the Sangha on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. The disciple did this and, thus, saw his mother's release. 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 ancestors and their sacrifices are remembered and appreciated. See also: Ullambana Sutra. For other uses, see Fable (disambiguation). ... Maudgalyayana (Pali: Mahamoggallana; Jp: Mokuren; Ch: 摩訶目犍連 Mohemujianlian), also known as Mahamaudgalyayana, was one of the Buddha Shakyamunis closest disciples. ... Standing Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE. Gautama Buddha was a South Asian spiritual leader who lived between approximately 563 BCE and 483 BCE. Born Siddhartha Gautama in Sanskrit, a name meaning descendant of Gotama whose aims are achieved/who is efficacious in achieving aims, he... A hungry ghost is a kind of ghost associated with hunger common to many religions. ... Media:Example. ... The Ullambana Sutra is a Mahayana sutra which consists in a brief discourse given by the Gautama Buddha principally to the monk Mahāmaudgalyāyana (Mokuren in Japanese) on the practice of filial piety. ...

Toro Nagashi is the floating of paper lanterns on the last evening of Obon, to guide the spirits in their journey. Toro Nagashi is a Japanese ceremony in which paper lanterns (chouchin) are floated down a river. ...

Bon Odori

Bon Odori Singer (August 2004 at Imazu primary school in Osaka)

Bon Odori Dancers (August 2004 at Imazu primary school in Osaka)

Bon Odori (盆踊り, meaning simply Bon dance) is an event held during Obon. It is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward one's ancestors. Image File history File links Bon_Odori_Singer Photography person : MASA photography day, in : August, 2004, photography place : Osaka City Imazu elementary school File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Bon_Odori_Singer Photography person : MASA photography day, in : August, 2004, photography place : Osaka City Imazu elementary school File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Bon_Odori_Dancer. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Bon_Odori_Dancer. ...

Originally a Nenbutsu folk dance to express the effusive welcome for the spirits of the dead, the style of celebration varies in many aspects from region to region. Each region has a respective local Bon dance, as well as respective music accompanying the dance. The music accompanying the dance can be songs specifically pertinent to the spiritual message of Obon, or local min'yo folk songs. Consequently, the Bon dance will look and sound different from region to region. Hokkaido, or northern Japan, is known for a folk-song known as "Soran Bushi." The song "Tokyo Ondo" needs no explanation. Residents of the Kansai area will recognize the famous "Kawachi ondo." Tokushima in Shikoku is very famous for its "Awa Odori," or "fool's dance," and in the far south, one can hear the "Ohara Bushi" of Kagoshima, Kyushu. Nianfo (念佛. Chinese pinyin nian fo; Japanese: nembutsu; Korean: yeombul), literally mindfulness of the Buddha. ... Minyo (Japanese: 民謡 minyō) is a genre of traditional Japanese music. ... Kawachi ondo (河内音頭) is a genre of Japanese music that evolved out of folk music which accompanied the bon-odori festival in Kawachi. ...

The way in which the dance is performed is also different in each region, though the typical Bon dance involves people lining up around a high wooden building made especially for the festival called a 'yagura'. The yagura is usually also the bandstand for the musicians and singers of the Obon music. Some dances proceed clockwise, and some dances proceed counter-clockwise around the yagura. Some dances reverse during the dance, though most do not. At times, people face the yagura and move towards and away from it. Still some dances, such as the Kagoshima Ohara dance, and the Tokushima Awa Odori, simply proceed in a straight line through the streets of the town. a large wooden structure at the center of the bon odori on which the musicians perform <http://www. ...

The dance of a region can depict the area's history and specialization. For example, the movements of the dance of the Tanko Bushi (the "coal mining song") of old Miike Mine in Kyushu show the movements of miners, i.e. digging, cart pushing, lantern hanging, etc. Because everyone dancing performs the same feet and hand movements in unison, it really is an interesting and beautiful dance to behold. Miike coal mine, also known as the Mitsui Miike Coal Mine was a coal mine located in the area of ÅŒmuta, Fukuoka and Arao, Kumamoto, Japan. ...

There are other ways in which a regional Bon dance can vary. Some dances involve the use of different kinds of fans, others involve the use of small towels called tenugui which may have colorful designs. Some require the users to use small wooden clappers they use during the dance. The "Hanagasa Odori" of Yamagata is particularly interesting, for its dancers use a flower-decorated hat or "hanagasa" for the dance.

The music that is played during the Bon dance is not limited to Obon music and min'yo; some modern enka hits and kids' tunes written to the beat of the "ondo" are also used to dance to during Obon season. Particularly famous is "Pokemon Ondo", which was used as one of the ending theme songs for the Pocket Monsters anime series in Japan. Minyo (Japanese: 民謡 minyō) is a genre of traditional Japanese music. ... The term enka refers to two different styles of Japanese music. ... Ondo is a type of Japanese Folk Music often heard during Obon festivals. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Pokémon (anime). ... Original run Original Series: April 1, 1997 – November 14, 2002 September 8, 1998 – October 25, 2003 Advanced Generation: November 21, 2002 – September 14, 2006 November 1, 2003 – March 3, 2007 Diamond & Pearl: September 28, 2006 – June 4, 2007 – No. ...

The Bon dance tradition is said to have started in the later years of the Muromachi period as a public entertainment. In the course of time, the original religious meaning has faded, and the dance has become associated with summer. The Muromachi period (Japanese: 室町時代, Muromachi-jidai, also known as the Muromachi era, the Muromachi bakufu, the Ashikaga era, the Ashikaga period, or the Ashikaga bakufu) is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. ...

To celebrate O-Bon in Okinawa, the eisa drum dance is performed instead. “Okinawa” redirects here. ... Eisa (エイサー) is a form of folk dance unique to the Ryukyu Islands. ...

Celebrations outside Japan

Brazil

Bon Odori Festival is celebrated every year in many Japanese communities all over Brazil, as Brazil is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. São Paulo is the main city of the Japanese colony in Brazil, and also features the major festival in Brazil, with street odori dancing and matsuri dance. It also features Taiko and Shamisen contests. And, of course, this festival is also a unique experience of a variety of Japanese food & drinks, art and dance. This article is about the city. ... Odori may refer to: Odori, a Japanese traditional dance. ... Stalls selling food or toys are a familiar sight at festivals throughout Japan. ... It has been suggested that Japanese_Taiko_Drumming be merged into this article or section. ... Kitagawa Utamaro, Flowers of Edo: Young Womans Narrative Chanting to the Samisen, ca. ...

China

The Chinese version of O-Bon, the Ghost Festival (盂蘭節), is held in the seventh month of the Chinese calendar instead of July. :):( This article is about the Chinese Ghost Festival. ... The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. ...

Malaysia

A Bon Odori Festival is also celebrated every year at Penang and at the Matsushita Corp Stadium, Shah Alam. This celebration, which is a major attraction for the state of Selangor, is the brain child of the Japanese Expatriate & Immigrant's Society in Malaysia. In comparison to the celebrations in Japan, the festival is celebrated on a much smaller scale in Penang and Selangor (Malaysia). Here, it is less associated with Buddhism and more with Japanese culture. Held mainly to expose locals to a part of Japanese culture, the festival provides the experience of a variety of Japanese food & drinks, art and dance. State motto: Dipelihara Allah State anthem: Duli Yang Maha Mulia Capital Shah Alam Royal capital Klang Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Sultan Sultan Sharafuddin  - Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo History    - Federated into FMS 1895   - Japanese occupation 1942   - Accession into Federation of Malaya 1948  Area  - Total 7,956 km² Population  - 2005...

United States and Canada

The "Bon season" is an important part of the present-day culture and life of Hawaii. Bon Odori festivals are also celebrated in North America, particularly by Japanese-Americans or Japanese-Canadians affiliated with Buddhist temples and organizations. Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) temples in the U.S. typically celebrate Bon Odori with both religious Obon observances and traditional Bon Odori dancing around a yagura. Many temples also concurrently hold a cultural and food bazaar providing a variety of cuisine and art, also to display features of Japanese culture and Japanese-American history. Performances of taiko by both amateur and professional groups have recently become a popular feature of Bon Odori festivals. Bon Odori festivals are usually scheduled anytime between July and September. Bon Odori melodies are also similar to those in Japan; for example, the dance Tanko Bushi from Kyushu is also performed in the U.S. In California, due to the diffusion of Japanese immigration, Bon Odori dances also differ from Northern to Southern California, and some are influenced by originally American culture, such as "Baseball Ondo"! North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... The Buddhist Churches of America is the United States branch of the Hongwan-ji (also known as Honpa Hongwanji / Nishi-Hongwanji) sub-sect of Jōdo ShinshÅ« (True Pure Land School) Buddhism. ... a large wooden structure at the center of the bon odori on which the musicians perform <http://www. ... It has been suggested that Japanese_Taiko_Drumming be merged into this article or section. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

See also

• Japanese calendar
• Japanese culture
• Awa Dance Festival

Koinobori, flags decorated like koi, are popular decorations around Childrens Day This mural on the wall of a Tokyo subway station celebrates Hazuki, the eighth month. ... Japanese culture and language Japans isolation until the arrival of the Black Ships and the Meiji era produced a culture distinctively different from any other, and echoes of this uniqueness persist today. ... Awa Dance Festival (Awa Odori &#38463;&#27874;&#36362;&#12426;) is held in the Tokushima city area every year in the time of Bon festival, Bon Odori. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bon

• Bon Dance: Description of various Bon Dance styles and resources.
• Runker Room : Japan : Obon no koto
• Photo Gallery of Bon Odori held in Penang, Malaysia
• Obon Festival in Japan
• Bon Odori Festival of the Seattle Buddhist Church in Seattle, WA
• Photo Gallery of Bon Odori 2007 in Penang, Malaysia