Bon Odori (盆踊り)- O-Bon Dancing and Traditional Music THIS EVENING (Aug.14th) in Hojo, Tsukuba
Bon-Odori ( a painting by Kiyokata Kaburagi 1878-1972)
By Avi Landau
Yesterday evening ( Aug. 13th), families all over Japan went to cemeteries with paper lanterns to greet and guide their ancestral spirits back home for what is called the O-Bon Festival. During their short stay with their This-Worldly families, the ancestors will be wined and dined with various offerings, AND entertained as well. This has traditionally been done in the form of Bon Odori ( Bon Dances), in which men, women and children ( of all ages), usually dressed in YUKATA ( cotton kimonos), dance either in lines or in a circle ( depending on the area).
Having apparently first developed sometime during the Heian Period (794-1185), and later popularized by Ippen Shonin (一遍上人) in the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), these dances ,which eventually came to be performed in various forms all over Japan, had until recently had a purely religious significance (expressing joy and thanks to the ancestral spirits).
These days, however, if they have survived in a particular area at all, Bon Dances have often become major events and tourist attractions- in fact, Tokushima Prefecture`s Awa Odori Bon Dances ( in which thousands of costumed dancers parade through the streets) are probably what that prefecture is most famous for! See here: http://www.city.tokushima.tokushima.jp/english/awaodori.html
Even when they occur on a smaller scale these events can be lots of fun as community gatherings ( while in some areas, they still do retain plenty of solemnty and mystery).
This evening, in Tsukuba`s Hojo ( in the parking lot of the former Tsukuba City Office along Rt 125) there will be a big Bon Dancing event in which this areas local dances will be performed and taught (for everyone to join in!).
A few hours before the event- typical features of a large scale Bon Odori: a large stage ( called a YAGURA) and colorful lanterns (Hojo on Aug 14th 2011)
The parking lot of the former city office might not sound like an appropriate place for such an event, but in fact, in the present age the city office or public hall ( kominkan) is a typical Bon Odori venue ( as oppossed to past ages when they were held on temple grounds or in front of peoples homes).
There will also be a performance of traditional music - tsugaru shamisen and taiko drums ( these musicians are REALLY GOOD!)
Starting time will be 4 pm, but the dancing wont begin till 5. The music will be from 6:40-7:40 ( and after that the dancing will resume again!)
I have never seen Hojo`s Bon Dancing before so I cant tell you anything about it yet, but I will post tomorrow to tell you what it was like ( for those of you who cant make it).
I not going to expect TOO MUCH, however, because I remember once reading of how the Japanese traditionally DID want to entertain their ancestral spirits, they DID NOT want to entertain them TOO MUCH and make them want to overstay their welcomes!
You can see some pictures of last year`s event in Hojo at this website:
http://taka4027.exblog.jp/11696725/
The festivities began with a surpring event- a tofu eating contest! The winner ate nine packets in 5 minutes!
At dusk, the dancing began- the dancers looked like SPIRITS themselves, gliding elegantly around the YAGURA stage with hands fluttering elegantly
As time passed, more people joined in the circle
A great Tsugaru Shamisen and Wadaiko (Japanese drums) ensemble got everyone fired up
A nearly full moon added the perfect touch in the background
Print This Post
August 28th, 2011 - 15:41
Nice to see a community spirit is still alive and well.