Obon お盆
Obon is an annual Buddhist event lasting from August 13 to 16 in most areas in Japan, but in Tokyo and some other areas, Obon is July 13 to 16 according to the lunar calendar.
We believe that the souls of our ancestors return to our homes during this time. Obon is an important event for remembering the deceased and maintaining their ties to their living relatives.
Having family gatherings and visiting graves are two things most families do during Obon. For those who don’t live with their families, Obon is a good opportunity to return their hometowns. Those who live in their hometowns welcome both the deceased and living family members home as their hosts. Most people living in the Uonuma region are the hosts, so men are busy cutting the grass and cleaning around the graves while the women are busy preparing the home for visitors. Therefore, Obon preparations begin well-ahead of August 13th!
In the evening of the 13th, one can witness the peaceful and fantastic scene of groups of people making their way through the twilight to their family graves which are filled with candlelight, fragrant incense smoke, and offerings of flowers. After that, the voices of family gatherings drift into the dark from open windows to warm our hearts.
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