In the middle of June, Japanese Buddhists celebrate Obon, a festival in which the dead are remembered, appreciated, and celebrated. A part of this celebration is the Bon Odori, a joyful dance to remember our ancestors.
Here in San Francisco, one of the oldest Buddhist groups outside of Asia, the Buddhist Churches of America, celebrate Bon Odori on July 25th and 26th, at their church in Japantown at 1881 Octavia Street at Pine. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the festival, play some games, listen to some music, and, of course, eat home-cooked Japanese food. There are also many Japanese-American items for sale at their “Ginza Bazaar.”
It's a fun day, great for families, and features a Bon Odori dance on the Sunday at 1:00pm.
