I am one hundred percent Japanese, fourth generation on my fathers' side of the family, and third generation on my mothers' side of the family. I am also Buddhist in religion. However, I knew nothing about my heritage until two events prompted me to learn about Bon dancing: meeting my boyfriend who was the head Taiko drummer for Ewa Fukushima Ondo, and the death of my grandfather shortly after Bon Season. My boyfriend offered to teach me to play the Taiko next Bon Season in honor of my beloved grandfather. Until that time, all I knew about Bon dancing was that it was a Japanese tradition honoring their ancestors.

New Year's and the Bon Season are the two most important occasions in Japan. In Japan, Obon is a national three-day holiday that starts on July 13. Businesses are closed so that everyone can travel home to be with their families. Prior to this holiday, families clean their homes very thoroughly They prepare by buying incense, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The Japanese Buddhists in the United States celebrate Obon over several weekends. The dances are held at different temples each weekend from July 15th to August 15th. The families honor their ancestors on the Sunday that is the closest to July 15th. A special memorial service is held at the Buddhist temples to learn about the meaning of the Obon, and to pay respects to their elders and ancestors. It is a time to remember the love, care, and kindness of their parents and grandparents. In addition, they also think about the hardships and sacrifices that their ancestors made for them. Finally, they are reminded about the teachings of the Buddha, to help them to rise above their sadness and problems. On the following weekend, the Bon Festival is held.

There is a significant reason why the Bon season is celebrated during this particular part of the year. It originates from the Ulambana Sutra, which relates the story of Mogallana, the most gifted of Shakyamuni Buddha's disciples in the area of extraordinary sensory perception. The story tells of Mogallana using his extraordinary powers to visualize the whereabouts of his mother who had passed away. Searching all of the realms, from the highest of the heavens to the lowest of the hells, he found his mother in the realm of the Hungry Ghosts (Gakido). Painfully, he saw how thin she had become, and knew that she was starving for food. Surprised and horrified, he used his powers again to send a bowl of rice soup (okayu) to his mother. Each time his mother attempted to put the food to her mouth, the food burst into flames. Mogallana immediately caused rain to put out the fire. However, the rain only helped the fire to burn more fiercely. Now Mogallana understood why his mother was unable to eat. Finding himself helpless in aiding his mother, he ran to Shakyamuni Buddha for help. The Buddha told Mogallana that on July 15th, many sacred ministers would gather after their meditation for the rainy season. Buddha told him to offer them food reverently, and by doing so he would save his mother. Mogallana did as he was told, and thus his mother was saved. Mogallana and everyone else who witnessed this, were so happy that they danced for joy. The filial piety of Mogallana greatly appealed to the people of Japan, and thus Obon became an annual function of ancestor worship.

The Buddhists believe that during Obon, the spirits of their dead ancestors return to Earth for a visit. To welcome them, the rituals begin with the lighting of incense by the families, followed by offerings of fruits and vegetables before a small family altar. The families then go to the cemetery to place rice cakes and other offerings on the grave sites. Lanterns are lit when the sun sets, to invite their ancestors to join them. The Buddhists believe that the spirits stay with them for the next two days. On the last night of Obon, the families who live nearby water release a small toy boat made of straw or wood with a candle inside. Setting it adrift is their way of saying good-bye to their ancestors. To conclude the Obon, the families then dance their traditional Bon dance. In this way the departed are entertained, and their souls become protecting kami for their loved ones.

Before the festival begins, a high platform or tower is built in a large open area. This represents the watch towers that were used long ago in the Japanese villages. A taiko drum is placed in the tower. In the past, the taiko drum summoned the people to the temple, and the people would chant sacred words to the beat of the taiko drums. Paper lanterns decorate the tower and the Surrounding area. It is a Buddhist symbol of kindness to all living things. When the sun sets, Bon Odori begins. (Odori is the Japanese word for dance). A large crowd, sometimes up to as many as five-hundred people, dance in large circles around the tower to the sound of the music and drum beats. Some dancers use round fans that are made from bamboo. Some dancers also use kachi-kachi, which are two pairs of bamboo sections that are hit together to join the beat of the taiko drums.

Bon Odori is not just limited to Buddhists. Anyone can participate in the dances. Because each dance only uses four or five simple movements that are repeated throughout the song, the dances are simple to learn. People of all ages participate. Bon Odori are folk dances that are very old. Many of the dances remain the same, but new dances usually arise every year. The dances tell the stories of the Japanese villages. It may be about a fisherman, a coal miner, a farmer harvesting rice, and etc. However, the Japanese believe that the original Bon Odori is the dance that Mogallana performed when his mother was saved. In some areas, as part of the Bon Odori, the dancers visit the homes of the families who have experienced a death during the previous year.

Many men and women dress in traditional kimonos. Some wear thin cotton garments that are shorter than kimonos, called yukatas. They are more comfortable than kimonos, since Obon is held during the summertime. Some use cotton towels that are approximately twelve inches by thirty inches in size. Others also wear clogs made with wooden blocks on the bottom, called geta. Long ago in Japan, these were worn because of the often muddy roads. In addition, some people also wear happi coats which are short, loose jackets. Temples and church groups make happi coats for the Obon Festivals. Each temple chooses different colors for its members.

In talking to people, I was unable to find complete agreement on the meaning of Bon Odori. One reference says Bon Odori tells the stories of Japanese villages in the past. However, others say the dances have no meaning, rather, the dances are performed solely through feeling. The meaning of Obon is also not clear cut. The Reverend Shinkai Murakami of the Pearl City Hongwanji Mission is unsure whether Obon welcomes the souls of the departed ones or not. He is also skeptical about whether Obon is for the benefit of our ancestors. Rather, this is what he said:

Obon is a time to remember and honor all of those who have passed on before us. It is to appreciate all that they have done for us, and to recognize the continuation of their deeds upon our lives. Obon is a time for self reflection, which is an important Buddhist practice, because it is only when man becomes aware of his imperfections and insufficiency in contrast to his ideals, that religion becomes a matter of personal concern.

Obon is also called Gathering of Joy. It is not the happiness of what we desire, but Joy of being shown the truth of what one is, no matter how damning that truth is to the image of our ego-self. It is the joy of awareness of being embraced in the Truth, in Amida Buddha, in Namo Amida Butsu. Bon dance, too, is not a dance of happiness, but rather a "Dance of Joy."

Bon Season is rapidly nearing and one taiko practice has already been held. I learned this past weekend that unfortunately, I am not allowed to play the taiko this year. Only the skilled old-timers are allowed to play the taiko. However, I am learning to play the shime drums. Practice involved three hours of intense conditioning. I learned the proper way of holding the drum sticks, the beats to the Ewa Fukushima Ondo, the ideal way to strike the drum head, and how to switch off in the middle of the song. I had a wonderful experience. It was fascinating to hear the beats of the taiko drums, shime drums, flutes, and singing together in a terrific ensemble. Hopefully I will be a fast learner so that I can play the taiko drum soon. A great deal of expression and skill is put into each strike of the taiko drum, which makes it very entertaining for the audience. Also, I now have a fuller understanding of the Bon Dance, a time for me to honor my beloved Grandpa Hayakawa.