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Hundreds of community members – some wearing traditional clothes such as happi coats or summer kimono called yukata – gathered this weekend at the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple to celebrate the Obon festival, a summer festival to honor one’s ancestors and loved ones.
Under the temple’s colorful umbrella canopy, guests enjoyed food – miso salmon, teriyaki chicken, homemade desserts and more – with proceeds benefitting the temple. Cultural displays took place throughout the weekend. On Saturday, audiences enjoyed a kimono show, a performance on the shamisen (three-stringed musical instrument), a demonstration of kendo (the martial art of swordsmanship) and a presentation of shodo (Japanese calligraphy).
Taiko, which means drum but also refers to the art of group percussion, had a strong presence at the festival – as Taiko does at many Japanese festivals. Three different taiko groups performed: the Silicon Valley Down Syndrome Network’s Taiko group, Arakawa Ajisai Taiko and Taiko SOBA.
Austin Fujii, 19, has been a member of the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple his entire life, and has performed Taiko since he was 8 years old. He was a member of San Jose Taiko’s Junior Program, and performed with their semi-professional Junior Taiko Performing Ensemble throughout high school. After graduating, he needed a new group, and Taiko SOBA “was the obvious choice.”
“Taiko is, at its core, a constant in my life, and it always has been,” Fujii said. “I think it will definitely continue to be through college and afterwards. It’s a way to culturally connect, and have a social outlet as well.”
Fujii has been attending the Obon festival since childhood.
“To me, (Obon is) a great way to connect with my community and honor my ancestors as well as have fun with the people I grew up with,” he said.
At this year’s festival, all of Taiko SOBA’s numbers were original pieces composed by members, but this year, they debuted two new songs: “Bajillion” by James Harden – “not to be confused with the basketball player,” as Fujii joked while introducing the group – and “Mawaru” by Candace Nguyen.
“Playing at Obon allows me to give back to the temple as a form of entertainment for the people coming,” Fujii said. “It feels great to be able to perform with my teammates, knowing that I’m sharing my energy with them and the crowd.”
Sunday’s entertainment included a demonstration from the Palo Alto Judo Club and performances from the Chidori Band, which is 72 years old, and was founded during an instrumental time as Japanese Americans reestablished their lives following internment during WWII, according to their website.
The festival concluded with a service inside the hondo, or main hall of the temple. There, Rev. Dean Koyama described Obon as “a time for us to deeply reflect upon our lives, remember the strengths and the many gifts that we have received, especially from our loved ones who have contributed all that they have.”
“Because of that, we are trying to express our deepest appreciation and joy and … repay a great debt of gratitude to them,” Koyama said.
In his message, Koyama also shared the story behind the Obon festival: in short, Moggallana, one of the Buddha’s closest disciples, learned that his mother was suffering in the plane of Hungry Ghosts. To free her, he asked the Buddha for advice and was told to give offerings to the monks. Upon doing so, his mother was freed and was reborn into the realm of the Buddha. Moggallana was so happy that he clapped and danced for joy, which is the inspiration for the Bon Odori, a a dance that makes up the final part of the festival.
Community members gathered outdoors after Koyama’s message in what Koyama described as a “kangie,” or gathering of joy, and danced the Bon Odori, which is a festival dance where “anyone is welcome,” according to Fujii. The moves are simple so that anyone can learn, and dance teachers hold lessons before the festival and perform on a yagura, a raised stage around which the other dancers rotate.
The festival was dedicated to two members of the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple who recently passed away. Charles (Chuck) Dene was a three-time president of the temple, and would show up for weeks before the Obon festival to volunteer. Marjorie Nakaji taught the Bon Odori at the temple for many years. At last year’s Obon, she came in a wheelchair, but still danced with the community, performing the steps with her arms.
Koyama’s message prior to the start of the dance was one of hope for the future.
“As human beings, we all bleed red blood, and we all want to live in peace and security,” he said, standing on the yagura. “Will we ever be able to live a life not always wanting more, but rather recognizing that what we have is enough, and it is enough to share. And that is why we are gathered here tonight. To be able to live a life of (enoughs) is to live a life of appreciation and gratitude.”
