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Each summer, stages called yagura are erected in parks and other public spaces across Japan. These yagura then
become focal points for local performances led by singers, called ondotori, who
are accompanied by dancers that circle the stage in step with the music. This
is Japan’s bon odori, a unique tradition that continues to endure as a
cherished rite of summer.
Traditionally, all the participants of the bon odori wore light cotton kimonos
called yukata, but these days, people may also join the festivities while dressed
in regular clothing.
The origins of the bon
odori stretch back more than
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| © The Mainichi Newspapers |
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1,000 years. The bon odori is
thought to have been spawned when nembutsu folk dances, initiated by
the Buddhist monk Kuya Shonin in an effort to popularize Buddhism, were combined
with obon, a Buddhist service through which prayers are offered for
the souls of one’s ancestors. Today, the timing of bon odori celebrations
vary somewhat from region to region, but they are most commonly held around the
middle of July or August, at the height of summer in Japan.
The religious nature of the bon odori has
faded over the years, and today, it is largely regarded as a festive occasion
that brings people in local communities together. Meanwhile, Japanese people
who have settled abroad have introduced the bon odori overseas. Today, bon
odori celebrations are held in such far-flung locations as Hawaii, South
America and various parts of Asia. |
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