The Local Legacies project provides a 'snapshot' of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Akaka, Senator Neil Abercrombie, Representative (1st District) & Patsy T. He worshipped at the Zao Gongen (the present Mitake Shrine in Nishimonai), and made the villagers perform a dance in the temple grounds to pray for a good.

Accompanying theĮssay are a 25-minute videotape of a bon dance performance, 30 8 xġ0 color photos, and an audio cassette of bon dance music. Present place of the Obon in Hawaiian culture. Of the project explores the history of that transformation and the The Nishimonai Bon Odori in Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture, is one of the three most popular Bon Odori festivals in Japan, along with Gujo Odori dance in Gifu.

Over the years, the ceremony and the practice ofīuddhism itself underwent significant change to adapt to the Some clubs provide musicians and group ofĭancers to lead the dancing, while others provide only the Each bon danceĬlub specializes in the music and dance of one of the prefectures Recent years have enlivened the bon dance tradition. Only Japanese Buddhists, but Filipino, Chinese, Korean, PortugueseĪnd native Hawaiian, Protestant and Catholic. Island traditions: interfaith services, interracial marriages, Revival was also powered by tourism and the convergence of several Sponsored a bon dance to honor the war dead from Hawaii.

Revival in 1951 when four Japanese-American veterans' groups Swept Hawai`i during the '40s, a post WW II event spurred its Nearly died out with the onslaught of anti-Japanese fervor that Strong, a festive mood prevails at the dance. Even though the sense of loss of family and loved ones is Is a way of reflecting upon the preciousness and fragility of this The dances known as bon odori is a specific type of dance done during the festival. The bon dance is a way ofĮxpressing gratitude to ancestors and loved ones no longer here. Schedules began to conform to the Western five-day week, bon dancesīegan to be scheduled for weekends. Later dances were held in temple courtyards. Where the immigrants labored, and in between houses on the Is believed that the first bon dances were performed in the fields The centerpiece of the ceremony is the bon dance. Months, when family members place flowers and food on the graves ofĮxpression of appreciation, before the family altar. Obon is observed in Hawai`i during the summer This Buddhist observance honoring the ancestorsĬame to Hawai`i in the late 19th century with a large wave of Members of the Young Okinawans perform at the Kailua Hongwanji Temple Bon Dance Kailua, Hawaii - 1999. Be sure not to miss the stunning performance and the beauty of the dancing that can be seen all the way to the fingertips.Hawaii: Obon in Hawai'i (Local Legacies: Celebrating Community Roots - Library of Congress) The Library of Congress To view the performance, it is recommended to pay for a seat for the best views the paid viewing area on the street offers views closest to the action. It is a form of ancestor worship as well. The dancers, with their faces hidden, are reflected in the bonfire as they dance to the melancholy music, creating a dreamlike world and bringing a sense of mystery. The Nishimonai Bon Odori Dance is a historically rich custom that has been performed in Ugo for nearly 700 years. The costumes, on the other hand, are beautiful indigo-dyed yukata and colorfully sewn Hanui kimonos, pieced together for a colorful finish. The festival is also called Mouja-Odori (dance of the dead) because the dancers hide their faces with a black cloth known as hikosa zukin and elegant half-moon-shaped hats made of soft rush called Amigasa. With 700 years of history, it was designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 1981. It takes place every year from 16 to 18 August. The Nishimonai Bon Odori in Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture, is one of the three most popular Bon Odori festivals in Japan, along with Gujo Odori dance in Gifu Prefecture and the Awa Odori dance in Tokushima Prefecture.