Every August throughout the Japan people are on the move back to their hometowns for the annual custom of Obon, a Japanese Buddhist custom to honour one’s ancestors’ spirits.
This has become a time of family reunion, when people have a couple of extra days off work and go back to their ancestral home to visit and clean their ancestors’ graves. It is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years, and is often celebrated with a special dance – the Bon Odori – which also brings the community together.
Nearly every region, city and town in the country has its own version of Bon Odori, and we went along to the dance in the tiny park at the end of our road to join in with our local community.
It was a wonderful atmosphere, with people of all ages coming together to celebrate. Small children fished for goldfish in an inflatable pool while their parents served cups of kakegori (crushed ice drizzled with bright coloured syrup) and played the big wooden drums, and their grandparents, dressed in summer kimonos, led the dance.
In the past I have joined in, all kimonoed up for the occasion, but this time was happy to sit under the shade of a tree sucking on a watermelon ice lolly while taking it all in.
***
Only one week to go until Module 1 of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design kicks off! Have you secured your place yet? Find out more and register here
