Bon Odori Festival 2009
This year’s Bon Odori Festival was held on Saturday, July 11th at 7:00pm at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC), in conjunction with the JCCC’s Natsu Matsuri. Unfortunately, thunder and lightning storms in the morning forced the activities indoors into Kobayashi Hall.
Following last year’s successful Gujo Odori event, record crowds enjoyed the day at the Natsu Matsuri.
Dancers from Sakura Kai, Ayame Kai and Himawari Buyo Kai from the JCCC, Momiji Seniors and Suzuran Kai (Hamilton) joined dancers from the TBC’s Bukkyo Kai to perform 19 dances.
In one of the highlights of the evening, TBC’s resident minister, Rev. Tomofumi Fujii and Mr. Giichi Ohashi took to the stage just prior to the intermission to sing Goshu Ondo, a dance from their home prefecture, Shiga-Ken. Following this, dancers from Ayame Kai, Sakura Kai and Bukkyo Kai buyo groups each performed on stage, followed by taiko performances by the TBC’s Isshin Daiko and Jyakurai Daiko.
It takes a large collaborative effort to put together an event of this size. Many thanks to those who participated and contributed to the success of the Obon Odori Festival, including the all dancers, Paul Aoki, Aaron Aoki, Eric Mark and Tomoe Shimizu on taiko, Rev. Fujii and Mr. Ohashi, MC Mr. Kunio Suyama, Isshin Daiko, Jyakurai Daiko. Special thanks to Christine Takasaki for her organization of the day and the JCCC for welcoming us and allowing us to use their facilities once again.
What is Obon?
Obon is a Japanese Buddhist festival that is held annually either in mid-July (as in Toronto) or August. It is a time when the souls of our dead ancestors are said to return home. According to Buddhist legend, one of Sakyamuni Buddha’s disciples, Mokuren or Moggallana, looked for his dead mother with his supernatural powers. He finally found her in agony, suffering for her past selfishness, in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. Mokuren tried to help his mother, but unfortunately, he was unable to save her. Mokuren asked Sakyamuni Buddha how he could help his mother and was told that he must make offerings of food and drink to the many priests who were completing their summer retreat in the area and hold a memorial for his mother on July 15th. Through these actions, Mokuren’s mother was saved, and he and his fellow disciples began to clap their hands and dance in joy. This was the origin of Obon and Obon Odori, commemorating the lives of our loved ones who have passed away before us.
For those who are not familiar with Bon Odori, it might sometimes seem complicated, but they are easy, rhythmic dances with repetitive steps…sort of like Japanese line dancing! It is said that every region in Japan has its own particular dances and kinds of music. Sometimes fans (the folding sensu, or the round uchiwa), tenugui (cotton towels), sticks, or castanets (Yotsutake – literally translated as “four bamboos” - or Kachi kachi - for the sound they make) are used. Hand gestures and movements show different aspects of life, such as digging for coal, fishing or harvesting rice, or even aspects of nature, such as blooming flowers or flowing rivers.
* (Source: Terry Watada, Bukkyo Tozen, HpF Press, 1996, p 326 -328)