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DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Tokyo:20200813T000000
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SUMMARY:Bon Festival　お盆　おぼん
DESCRIPTION:A Japanese Tradition From India\nObon is a very special time of year with modern celebrations held along with the traditional rituals. This festival gives us some insight into Japan’s Buddhist roots as well as into the unique ways each part of the country celebrates the holiday and carries out its fun-filled summer festivals. Traditionally Obon was celebrated around July 15 (and still is in some areas), but because of the adoption of the Gregorian calendar a lot of traditional holidays were offset by being held one month later (or earlier). However, for most of Japan Obon is held from roughly August 13th to 16th every year. Though not a public holiday, it is general custom for workers and students to get this time off to travel back to the gravesites of their ancestors in their villages of origin to tidy up and perform the proper ceremonies. The following is a description from Matcha.com ( https://matcha-jp.com/en/4742 ) Matcha.com about the typical Obon observances.\nObon-Iri\nThe beginning of the celebrations is called “Obon-iri”. This is when the families of the deceased prepare to welcome their ancestors, decorating the altar in their home and making offerings.\nOutside the house, the so called “mukaebi” *(welcoming fire) is lit. This fire is believed to have to role to invite the spirits to their old homes. The graves of the deceased are visited and cleaned during this time, and some families light their mukaebi or lantern at the grave itself.\nObon – Day 1\nA memorial service is held for the ancestors or a Buddhist Obon ceremony is held if it is the first Obon for a deceased family member.\nObon-Ake or Okuribon (Day 2)\nThe okuribi (“sending off” fire) is lit, guiding the spirits back to their resting place. Lanterns are often placed on a nearby river to represent the spirits’ return to the other world.\nReferences\nIn English\n https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Festival ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Festival )\n https://matcha-jp.com/en/4742 ( https://matcha-jp.com/en/4742 )\nIn Japanese\nhttps://butudan-ec.minrevi.jp/knowledge/about-obon/ ( https://butudan-ec.minrevi.jp/knowledge/about-obon/ )\nhttps://obousan.minrevi.jp/obon-yurai/ ( https://obousan.minrevi.jp/obon-yurai/ )\nPhoto thanks to 白石准 @ PhotoZou.com ( http://photozou.jp/photo/show/1934405/168501446 ).\nAbout the AuthorPjechorin Facebook TwitterI have lived and worked with my family in Japan since 2005. For many years I have been interested in the very practical and creative side of Japanese culture. In my free time I travel around, enjoy hiking in the countryside and cities, and just generally seeing and doing new things. This blog is primarily a way for me to focus my energies and record and teach others about what I have learned by experience constructively. I am interested in urban development, and sustainable micro-economics, especially home-economics, and practical things everyday families can do to survive and thrive through these changing times.\n\nNew Year’s Fukagawa Seven Gods of Fortune Pilgrimage| Stamp Rally 深川七福神　| FukagawaShichiFukuJinJanuary 2, 2026Guide to Tokyo Sea Forest Park | Umi no Mori Park | 海の森公園September 6, 2025The Museum of Salt and Tobacco Tokyo | たばこと塩の博物館March 16, 2025\n
URL:https://exotericjapan.com/events/bon-festival%e3%80%80%e3%81%8a%e7%9b%86%e3%80%80%e3%81%8a%e3%81%bc%e3%82%93/
CATEGORIES:August in Japan,Japanese Cultural Calendar
LOCATION:Japan
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