We would like to introduce Japanese customs to the visitors to our website. The first one is “Obon.”
Obon, also refered to as “Day of the Dead,” is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor departed sprits of one’s ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestros’ graves, and when the spirits of ancestrors are supposed to revisit the household altars (NILS is closed during this period). Related to Obon, Bon Odori (Bon dance) is an event held during Obon. Bon Odori is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward one’s ancestors. Many communities in Japan have their own Bon Odori festivals.

There are same kinds of festivals as Obon in some countries in Asia. One of our students from Singapore told us that they had a similar custom to Obon. We, Japanese, have some Buddhist customs to honor our ancestors throughouth the year.