Annual Obon Festival celebrates memory of Japanese ancestors
SAN JOSE » The familiar sights and sounds drifted through Japantown on Saturday as they do every summer: Fresh sushi and teriyaki, Japanese folk music, the rumble of drums and the chatter of curious children.
But the centuries-old celebration on North Fifth Street was just as much for the dead as it was for the living.
The Obon festival — one of Japan’s largest and most significant religious events — is a Buddhist custom honoring the spirits of one’s ancestors. The joyous event is marked by family gatherings, Japanese dishes and a traditional dance known as bon odori.
“When we think about relatives and friends who have died, they’re not just memories we’ll continue to receive, but rather, they’re a part of our lives and we continue to celebrate that relationship that we have,” said Rev. Gerald Sakamoto of the San Jose Buddhist Church Bet-
suin, which organizes the Japantown festival every year.
“Another name for the Obon festival is ‘the gathering of joy,’” Sakamoto said. “It’s to celebrate and be mindful of the contributions that the friends and family have made to our lives.”
Though it’s a Buddhist tradition, the festival is a national holiday in Japan and is typically celebrated the July 13-16 or Aug. 1316, depending on the region.
The festival commemorates the Buddhist monk Mogallana. Legend says Mogallana, who could see into the afterlife, saved his dead mother from hell by giving offerings to Buddhist monks. He danced in celebration, joined by others in a large circle.
That dance, known as bon odori, remains one of the highlights of the
Obon festival. During the vibrant traditional folk dance, participants dance in a large ring around a “yagura” or raised platform to the beat of taiko drums and singing.
For the past 14 years, the festival has given San Jose resident Robert Kuboi an opportunity to celebrate a part of his heritage, and to share it with others.
Kuboi, who’s half Japanese, wore a casual kimono and hat to the festival Saturday, similar to those that Samurais wore when they weren’t in combat, he said. As he walked up and down North Fifth Street, people stopped him to admire his garb and asked to take pictures.
“I come down here whenever there’s a festival here and I dress up,” Kuboi said. “I want people to engage me . ... I have fun doing this. I meet people from all over and I want people to enjoy their visit here. I hope they come back year after year. Without them, we don’t have a community.”
Throughout the day, there were performances by Japanese drumming groups, games and basic teachings on Buddhism.
For Stephanie James, 35, of San Jose, it was a chance to show her 1½-year-old daughter to her Japanese roots.
“Her grandma is Japanese and isn’t around and her health is failing, so it’s nice to bring her to an event,” she said. “San Jose has a big Japanese community so its nice to have her have that cultural experience. We’re fortunate to be here, so that it’s something that she can grow up with.”