Obla-di-Obla-da-OBON

Below is a picture of the last nite of the 3-day Obon festival. It is called Toro-nagashi and is a Buddhist ceremony that commemorates lost loved ones and asks the ancestors to return to their families once more. The lantern is a symbol of lighting the way for the spirits to return home. These lanterns below were decorated by families and paraded through town with much chanting and singing and praying going on....then they lit candles inside of the lanterns and threw them in the ocean--in the hopes that their ancestors could find their way back home. Many bon fires are also lit to guide the spirits back. What a neat concept!










So it is festival-central right now in Japan. Every community, large and small, spends exhorbitant amounts of time, money and energy on organizing lengthy parades with beautiful floats and great music, festivals with delicious (and cheap) food --mostly tempura (so im sold!) and amazing displays of firework shows. We have had the opportunity to see some of these festivities in Taneichi, as well as Hachikami and Hachinohe (both cities to the north of us in the Aomori Prefecture). The mood is laid back and celebratory, as everyone joins together to celebrate their country, community and culture. The orange lanterns adorn the streets and offer a constant reminder that its festival time!