Senshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles held its annual Bon Odori on July 6, attracting dancers of all ages from temples and community centers throughout the Southland.
The event opened with food booths and Hatsubon services for loved ones who passed away since last year’s Obon.
Bon Odori, emceed by Chris Aihara, featured drumming by Johnny Mori and other members of Kinnara Taiko; vocals by Nobuko Miya-moto, “Atomic Nancy” Sekizawa and Mariko Rooks for “Bambutsu no Tsunagari” and other Obon songs composed by Miyamoto; and a performance of “Lantern Song” by Bonbu Stories, an Asian American arts collaborative, to mark the 125th anniversary of Buddhist Churches of America (BCA).
The dance circle was surrounded by lanterns bearing the names of the departed.
The dancing, which opened and closed with remarks by Rev. Ryuta Furumoto, was followed by omairi (prayers) in the temple’s Hondo (main hall) and Sentō Shōgon, in which 1,000 oil lamps were lit in memory of deceased relatives and friends.
The program closed with otoki (cold noodles were served) and hōraku (expression of joy through a performance by Kinnara Taiko).