Summer time in Hawaii brings the sweet sounds of Japanese folk singing and taiko drumming from the many Buddhist temples around town. The traditional obon dance is a Japanese Buddhist tradition honoring departed ancestors and the Japanese community comes together for this special event.
I walked down to the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin temple with a digital camera and the Leica. I participated in an Obon dance when I stayed in Yokohama many years ago and found the dance a bit odd. The dance is very regimental and has limited moves where you more or less dance around a yagura or bandstand. The dance moves, practiced before hand, consist of slight hand movements and waves along with the waving of a fan or snapping of wooden “candy cane” sticks.
Most of the participants wear very colorful kimonos or yukatas and everyone is having lots of fun. The temple sold hamburgers, shaved ice, and lots of local Japanese fare.
These three ladies eating a quick bite ended up being dance instructors at the dance. They were quite important and were not all to keen with me snapping their photos.
The dance brings together the old and the young and lots of kids participate in the dance. Usual kimono wear doesn’t really mandate black Converse but rebellion will always sneak into tradition among the young.
The dance was enjoyed by all. These kids laughed the entire time. It wasn’t hard to snap good photos of these two.
Even those who might be a bit shy…