Holiday Traditions and Related Foods : Obon- Japan

According to the travel site Tokyo Top Guide, the Obon Festival In Japan can be known as the Festival of Souls, Bon Festival, or the Festival of Ancestors. It is one of the most joyful Japanese celebrations, with dancing and drinking all night long. It is a true traditional Japanese Festival; with the sound of Japanese drums, and the bright lights of the floating lanterns.

Tokyo Top Guide stated the Festival of Obon is an annual event held during the season of Hanabi. It is based on a centuries old Japanese Buddhist custom that centers on honoring the spirits of the deceased. The lanterns are put out on the river” to guide the ancestors’ spirits on their way back to the land of the deceased.”

This Buddhist festival has become a family reunion holiday. For over 500 years, Obon Festival in Japan has been celebrated and on the last day, “the spirits of the ancestors are brought back to the grave, and family crest chochin painted meant to guide the spirits are hung. It’s called okuri-bon.”

Tokyo Top Guide also said you can watch or participate in the candle lighting, where floating lanterns are placed in the river to float down to the ocean. People “send off the spirits of their ancestors with the lanterns that have a lit candle inside.” You can watch or participate in a Bon Odori dance performance. You can enjoy listening to the Japanese Taiko drums. The streets are “filled with the sound of Traditional Obon music along with Modern Japanese pop music.” During Obon, you can also sense the Senko incense drifting through the streets.

According to Pete Lee from L.A. weekly, Obon festivals offer a large variety of comfort food: Japanese, Japanese-American and Hawaiian dishes and treats. Many non-traditional dishes have also been introduced over the years.

You will find chicken and beef teriyaki (most offer their own homemade secret teriyaki sauce), chili dogs, chili rice, curry rice, sushi, Spam musubi (Spam sushi), tamales, tacos, chashu bao (Chinese barbecued pork buns), mochi and snow cones at most Obon festivals.