Bon-Odori stage night illumination

One of the most beautiful Japanese Buddhist traditions is the Bon Festival (Obon in Japanese), a 500-year-old celebration honoring the spirits of ancestors. And the best part about Obon is the dance, Bon-Odori (odori means "dance").

Bon-Odori varies from region to region, but in most cases the dance is performed around a central wooden stage called yagura (tower), where the singers and the taiko drummers are performing. By night, the stage is lit with multi colored paper lanterns, and the atmosphere becomes enchanting...