Bon Odori, a traditional Japanese summer dancing festival, is always at the top of summer events that the Japanese love to enjoy.
I visited a Bon Odori held by Tsukiji Honganji Temple, one of the renowned temples in Tokyo. It is located just next to the Tsukiji Outer Market, where I have taken many international tourists on morning food market tours. There were many food stalls from the market, selling their iconic dishes. (Would you like to know what Bon Odori means? Don’t rush. Enjoy a happy atmosphere first. The explanation of Bon Odori is at the end of this post.)
I bought a piece of chicken cutlet at Toritou (above), a famous chicken wholesale shop in the market, and then went straight to a beer-selling stall to get Sapporo’s Pilsner (below). It was a lovely moment for me to cool my sweating body down and fill my hungry stomach with the delicious chicken cutlet.
Then, I found another stall offering grilled Ayu, a sweet fish, seasoned only with salt. That pretty went well with beer!! I was so delighted. Every food there looked so yummy.
The audience sat at the tables or on the ground and enjoyed their food, waiting for the festival to start, or simply walked around with a cup of beer in hand and immersed themselves in the vibrant atmosphere, just as I did.
Before the Bon Odori dance began, the Oedo Sukeroku Daiko team, a traditional drumming performance group, presented their drum session, titled “Shunrai” (Spring Thunder) and “Matsui” (Festival). Please take a look at the video of their excellent performance, which cheered up the festival vibes. Although the video is a bit long (17 minutes and 16 seconds), I guarantee that it is worth watching.
Just before 7:00 p.m., the Bon Odori began. People gathered around the yagura, the center stage, and formed a circle around it. When the Bon Odori music started, they moved and danced, sometimes clockwise and sometimes counterclockwise, to the instructions given by the dancers on the stage of the yagura. Dance itself was simple and pretty easy to follow the instructions, so many foreigners were trying to dance with local people.
Bon Odori draws many people looking to enjoy their summer holidays. However, it is more than just a popular summer festival; it is also a Buddhist religious ceremony. Local residents and businesses that support and honor the Tsukiji Honganji Temple have generously donated funds to help organize the festival, and their names are prominently displayed on the lanterns. So, red lanterns indicate the number of donors who support the festival and the temple.
Bon originated from the Ura-Bon Sutra, one of the Buddhist scriptures believed to have originated in China. It encourages us to pray for the souls of our ancestors to be freed from any burdens they may have carried. When it reached Japan, the Japanese adapted it, believing that the spirits of their deceased parents would return to them during the Ura-Bon-e, a period of praying for and respecting their ancestors. Since then, people have held a Bon Odori (odori = dance) festival to welcome the souls of their ancestors returning by performing dances.
The Bon festival also provided an opportunity for young people to meet their partners in ancient times. There was no internet, telephones, movie theaters, etc. So, the Bon festival was one of the most significant events and entertainments in their villages, which I suppose was a perfect occasion for them to mingle with each other, perhaps secretly from their families.
Thank you for reading my blog post. If you are in Japan from mid-July until mid-August, you may encounter a Bon Odori festival in a town. Please ask your hotel staff if there is a Bon Odori festival nearby. If you need an English-speaking guide to explore traditional summer festivals in the Tokyo area, please send a message via the “Contact me!” box. I try to find a festival and take you to it.
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