Photo By Sgt. Carlos Jimenez | Kawamura Sayoko, a Japanese local and nursing home residents, dances the Bon-Odori...... read more read more
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Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni residents joined hands with Japanese locals as they honored the spirits of their ancestors during the Bon-Odori festival at Kinjuen nursing home in Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 14, 2017, as part of a Cultural Adaptation trip.
Station residents dressed up in summertime Kimonos, called Yukatas, and danced the Bon-Odori with Japanese locals.
"The Bon-Odori festival is a traditional Japanese event, and it’s a very rare opportunity to celebrate with U.S. residents,” said Mikie Watanabe, Cultural Adaptation specialist. “It’s a great opportunity for the residents to meet locals.”
Obon, or simply Bon, is the Japanese Buddhist custom of commemorating one’s ancestors, and Bon-Odori is the dance performed in their honor. Those who celebrate it believe that each year during Obon, the ancestors' spirits return to visit their relatives.
The dance is performed all over Japan in order to receive spirits and send them off again, while remembering and giving respect to their sacrifices.
“During the dance we don’t have any language barriers,” said Watanabe. “We’re just dancing together and smiling.”
For many station residents, it was their first time participating in the festival or even wearing a Kimono. Some others have participated in the event before with the Cultural Adaptation program and wanted to experience it again.
“My family and I were able to enjoy the festival last year,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Milton Bridges, a station resident. “It’s a good opportunity for us to come out and dress-up, go dancing, enjoy good food and mingle with the locals. I really enjoy experiencing the culture.”
The event was held as a show for the nursing home residents, who watched the American and Japanese people dance together.
After they finished dancing, everyone was able to enjoy over an hour of games and food. They ate Yakisoba, sausages and cotton candy. They also played games like ring toss and yo-yo balloons.
“My favorite part is seeing people wear the Kimono dress for the first time,” said Watanabe. “They’re smiling and excited, meeting the local Japanese people, having dinner and dancing together.”
Cultural Adaptation provides events, trips and classes for station residents. They visit nursing homes, elementary schools, and local events like rice planting, tea harvesting, and many other events.
For upcoming events or more information from Cultural Adaptation, call 253-6165.
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2017 20:11 |
| Story ID: | 244972 |
| Location: | IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP |
| Web Views: | 86 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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