盆踊り 2008 - Dance for Bon
By Serge Norguard. Filed in Events, Personal, Relationship/Romance |
About 2 hours ago, Serge came back from Bon Odori. Which was held at the Panasonic Stadium, Shah Alam. This yearly event, is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward one’s ancestors.
In Japan, Bon Odori is Originally a Nenbutsu folk dance to express the effusive welcome for the spirits of the dead, the style of celebration varies in many aspects from region to region. Each region has a respective local Bon dance, as well as different music accompanying the dance. The music can be songs specifically pertinent to the spiritual message of Obon, or local min’yo folk songs. Consequently, the Bon dance will look and sound different from region to region.
Hokkaidō, or northern Japan, is known for a folk-song known as “Soran Bushi.” The song “Tokyo Ondo” takes its namesake from the capital of Japan. “Goshu Ondo” is a folk song from Shiga prefecture. Residents of the Kansai area will recognize the famous “Kawachi ondo.” Tokushima in Shikoku is very famous for its “Awa Odori,” or “fool’s dance,” and in the far south, one can hear the “Ohara Bushi” of Kagoshima, Kyūshū.
The way in which the dance is performed is also different in each region, though the typical Bon dance involves people lining up in a circle around a high wooden scaffold made especially for the festival called a ‘yagura’. The yagura is usually also the bandstand for the musicians and singers of the Obon music. Some dances proceed clockwise, and some dances proceed counter-clockwise around the yagura.
Some dances reverse during the dance, though most do not. At times, people face the yagura and move towards and away from it. Still some dances, such as the Kagoshima Ohara dance, and the Tokushima Awa Odori, simply proceed in a straight line through the streets of the town.
Serge has been to this event for 4 years now and even though it is the same thing year in and year out, it is always nice to be here. With friends, with old folks and the atmosphere is something. The usual crew of ComicFiestans were there. Old girl friends of yore whom we all love and cherish and the friendship that was built can be seen.
Though there are time we love to hate each other, there are time we hate to lose each other. All in all, when push comes to shove.. Serge believes that these group will probably the one who will save him from himself. And for that he thanks them all.
Full Album available at the Gallery
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Following Post(s) that relates to 盆踊り 2008 - Dance for Bon
Saturday, July 12th 2008 at 10:56 pm
aik…missed it….how was it? post more photos ma
Saturday, July 12th 2008 at 11:07 pm
well photos is in the gallery. Too lazy to load all the pics here
Sunday, July 13th 2008 at 8:55 am
Back to the old days, we used to visit this place every year during high school.
Sunday, July 13th 2008 at 10:47 am
hahaha. well i started visiting Odori only in 2004