Bon Odori Yagura stage

During the middle of August, in Japan takes place one of the most important traditional celebrations, the Obon (Bon festival), a Buddhist tradition dedicated to honoring the spirits of ancestors. One of the main activities during this festival is the Bon Odori dance: in temple courtyards, in parks or even in the squares between apartment buildings, the paper lanterns are marking and decorating the festival area and at sunset the dance begins…
The dancers, accompanied by traditional music and taiko drummers, are slowly circling around a raised stage called yagura. And anyone can participate, you just need to imitate the dancers’ moves…

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Bon Odori, Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple, Tsukiji, Tokyo

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Tenno-ji Daibutsu