How I prepare and spend Obon

(posted; Japanese culture page)

The Obon week in mid August (actual date is from the 13th to the 15th) is one of Japan's major holiday seasons. Any transportation get really crowded to visit loved one. It is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating our ancestors, as their spirits believed to return this world in order to visit their relatives. It’s a great opportunity for dispersed families to get together and spend time with.  

                                                                                 

Let me tell you how we spend this season; 

Before Obon, around 10th, weeding and cleaning the family grave to prepare Obon. Decorate the "Obon Lantern" in front of the family altar like the picture from pc.

Normally on 12th, I clean and decorate our family altar with flowers and offering (fruits, some sweets)   Renew the candles and incense. 

From 13th to 15th,  we visit family grave with flower.  It is LOVELY to see many graves have flowers offered and show they had visits.　During these days, priests are supposed to visit his parishioners' house to recite Buddhist sutras. However, it is too short for them to visit all the parishioners for only 3 days, they do this really flexible way and ours came on 5th this year.

This picture is from pc. I wished to show an example of what the family altars look like (rather gorgeous one and original wood color is more common).  This one is from pc (advertisement) not from  private family, so no "spirit tablet"; I thought it is ok to put here.　Visiting graves while children must mean foster them the respects for the ancestors. I remember being taken mine by my parents, uncle and aunt together; good occasion to hear a little anecdote about our old relatives. 

PS> I am busy having guests etc during "Obon".  My next post will be around 20th. So sorry I posted today again I had this drafted before. I'll try comment on your posts but if I don't, it 's because I just don't have time. See you around friends ♪

Obon (お盆) and the Bon festival dance (盆踊り) in Japan

This year we are having summer with SO high temperature all over Japan. Today, the news said that in one part of Japan it got higher than 40℃(over 104 with Fahrenheit)...    Unusual  Smothering Heat Wave, "酷暑, kokusho" we are experiencing.

Obon (お盆) season is coming in Japan;

I wish to introduce one fun event during this season.  The Bon festival dance is held as community activity (mostly) by using the playground of school etc. The music and the dance from the video(You-tube) is the most popular one, which I can still dance without instruction. It is the old folk song sung by coal mine workers. I reminisce my mother put yukata (summer kimono) on me and dance together with her and friends.

Let me introduce you obon in Japan by summarizing from my former obon post. My old friends, you may be already familiar with this. Please skip reading below p;) 

The Obon week in mid August (actual date is from the 13th to the 15th) is one of Japan's major holiday seasons. It is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating our ancestors, as their spirits believed to return this world in order to visit their relatives. Normally on 12th, I clean and decorate our family altar with flowers and offering (fruits, some sweets)   Renew the candles and incense. 

I wished to show an example of what the family altars look like. This one from PC(advertisement) looks rather gorgeous one and original wood color is more common).  As it is not form private family, so no "spirit tablet"; I thought it is ok to put here.　Visiting graves while children must mean foster them the respects for the ancestors. I remember being taken mine by my parents, uncle and aunt together; good occasion to hear a little anecdote about our old relatives.  

PS> My father is moving from the current hospital to a different care facility. Many trivial things to deal with and a bit under par. I'll have more free time and hopefully get better after obon, dear friends♡♡♡

Linking this post to Our World Tuesday 

Obon and my Busy August

The Obon week in mid August is one of Japan's three major holiday seasons, so transportation get really busy to visit loved ones. It is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating our ancestors, as their spirits believed to return this world in order to visit their relatives. I take this season kind of sacred.

This kind of special lanterns (pic from pc-site) for Obon are put in front of the family altar (2 for one set). And we have our family monk's visits to recite Buddhist sutras. Today, our family monk visited us, (haha, too early but ours is the first house for him to visit his supporters). And we visit family grave yard. Obon is one of three occasions to pay ancestors a visit besides Higan (two periods of seven days with the middle day falling on the spring or autumn equinox). First Obon after death is usually commemorated like the other set memorial service year. My brother who was single died last year, I'm supposed to hold "first Obon" and "first year memorial service" for him this year.


I've already posted about memorial services →here  these occasions are really good chances to get together and see relatives. I wonder if there're occasions  for relatives (in remembrance of the ancestors) to get together  in western cultures.  
Anyways, I will have to spend a bit busy August.  

About Obon from my old post and busy days;

　　　　In Japan, we are having family gathering, Obon-Season♪

Quick post wishing to introduce about Obon and how we spend these days 'from 13th to 15th', when our ancestor's soul come back to see us.  Here is → "the links" about Obon from my old posts. I've decorated family alter and will visit grave yard both my husband and my side tomorrow.   One of the most important days for Japanese.   

My husband's brother (who is also in this obon post) called us today and visiting us. Their two daughters are already married and have children. Considering they'll be busy with them, we appreciate their thoughts and visiting grave. My husband looked happy he can serve his Soba for them after a long interval.  I'm having busy days helping my husband his concert appearance with his band group etc. I'll try hard to visit you friends ♡♡♡

picture is from this page, we decorate fruits as well.

I accidentally hit Google+ button of my own previous post...:-)

Appreciation for the last post

Quick post of appreciation;

I am SO grateful for the sweet comments from everyone!!!
Thank you SO much for your kindest words. They meant a lot to me. I cannot belive how easily I can be in tears now...  Haha, I will be careful not to be like cry-baby when posting here. (hope I am writing correctly for my feeling)

It is next day's evening now, feeling fine being able to have the first obon service without a hitch today. Our family monk offered or chanted my brother a Buddhist sutra for him. Haha, a bit long as usual like other services.

As my new Dear friend Jo-Anne Rambling told me that she wished to know more about obon, I thought it might be better writing new post and paste the site which will give you the idea.  please qlick here→Link

I set the altar of my bro's a bit similar like the little picture in the site. ( I'll paste here as well) For the "First Year",  just sutra is special for the person who past away last year.  Lanterns are only decorated especially Obon to welcome our ancestors.  

Obon Guests and a Trifle

Hello, Dear friends; how are you doing in your corner of the world♬♬♬ As I explained in my previous post, I had my visiting and having guests (and so on) Obon week.  Here are some guests on different days and trifle rambling about PC. 

Guests 

* My cousin's family

One of my cousins has 2 lovely daughters, and here is the elder one who look alike a bit with her sister. Maybe some of my friends must have taken her with the younger one whom I posted having come to my house before. This cute elder sister also enjoyed my hubby's soba and playing saxophone with him.

Sweet Three Generations

I liked this three shot (haha, I wish you remember this Japanese English)  And can you see the Japanese lantern for obon I decorated in front of my family altar, which I wrote about in my previous post? 

She did well playing saxophone and my cousin sang a song

*My husband's brother and his wife

They live about two hours drive away from our house. They visited our family grave (hubby's family line) located near our house.　Our niece (one of their daughters) is expecting her first baby this Dec. we are really excited about this. It is always heartwarming to see hubby having enjoyable time chatting with his brother; this time about a year since the last time.

*My old PC broke down

A couple of days ago, my old pc broke down. Mainly I was using it in the hubby's hobby room to avoid turning on air-conditioning at two places. Is there anyone considering to have a new pc?  I checked Japanese T company's current model of windows7 with PC. I wondered how I should do...
       * I still have 3 years old vista to use...
       * Whether windows8 (tablet type) worth to wait or not...
                                               Or rather, if I can handle it or not p;) 
       * I wonder if the SSD (?) thing in the new model really good...
       * We have 10 % coupon for electric appliances.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Well, I decided go for it!!! (window7 with SSD)

Thank you very much for stopping by and let me visit you from tomorrow. It is close to midnight of 18th now. Oh, I missed many posts of my friends!

Exhibition of Embroidery on silk-screen printing etc;

＊Hiroko Tuchiya’s Embroidery Exhibition＊ 

Embroidery Exhibition at the department in my city. First time for me to see the works which have done both printing and embroidery.　Happy to be able to enjoy Very Unique and Charming works. 
                      New style of  art for me♪

*Things that reflect  映し出すもの*　

*Brighten with Flower  華やぐ*

*Looking Back かえりみる*

＊Agapanthus from our back yard＊
   These Agapanthus were blooming late June♪ 
Happy that finally found matching place to post this flower.

＊Oriental  Green Finch and workers＊

On 2nd. this month, under hot weather, I found many finches flying 

back and forth around the fences, electric wires and into the rice paddy.

Seeing me approaching them from even a bit far, they flew away...

Obon (お盆) season is coming in Japan;

Obon  (actual date is from 13th to 15th) is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating 

our ancestors, as their spirits believed to return this world. 

                  Today we will visit our family graves.  (My old page about obon)

                                 Have a wonderful coming new week.  See You Soon♪

Linking this post to these pages and Thanks to all the link hosts;

"SEASONS", "Through My lens", "Our World Tuesday", 

"Nature Notes","Outdoor Wednesday", "Flower Wednesday", 

"Wildflower Wednesday", Wednesday Around The World, "Thankful Thursday", 

"Floral Friday Fotos", "Flower Friday",  "Friday’s Hunt", 

"Scenic Weekends", "Saturday's critters", "id-rather-b birdin", 

crafted candy "飴細工, amezaiku" for wedding♡♡♡

Hi, friends; how is (or was) your hot or cold season. My busy Obon is almost over. I'll be able to have more free time from tomorrow, I hope.

One of my cousin's two daughters is going to get married next moth. The other daughter made this lovely handmade crafted candy flower for the top of the wedding cake. While we were visiting her, she was making test version and my cousin kindly sent me the pictures of the process later.  (This page introduces us varieties of crafted candies.)

*Here is how she made the candy flower*
 (she needed to wear gloves as the candy is very hot)

Thank you very much for stopping by. I think I'm feeling a lot better than now before Obon p;)  I DO hope you all will have a wonderful coming weekend♡♡♡
（Pictures were taken by my cousin I.A and I arranged them）
I'll visit you soon♪  

Bit early Halloween post;

When I went to my favorite cake shop early this month, I was really amazed at the shop's elaborate Halloween decoration, baskets and all ♡♡♡  Let me show you today.

(I  had permission in advance)

*Inside of the Cake Shop*

(you can see cakes vaguely in the back)

I decorated inside of our front door as well. 

My little student asked me what this ornament was.

Young children don't know this western custom. They are always surprised to know that the tradition (Jack-o'-lantern and trick or treat) and is somewhat close to our Obon season (middle August) when our ancestors spirits come and visit us. The evil spirits are not especially thought to come during Obon. I thought I might as well introduce you that we adopted the custom in Japan.  (adopted doesn't mean we do trick or treating, haha)

Thank you very much for stopping by; love you always♪

See You Soon♪

First of all, So sorry for my absence to you all.  

After I posted the previous blog, I became a little below par.  And now this week, we are having Obon season (←link to my old blog explaining Obon in Japan)  which is family gathering time.  It is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating our ancestors, as their spirits believed to return this world in order to visit their relatives. Visiting family grave and so on.  I also am having relatives sharing this family gathering time.

I'll try visiting you before my next post. Thank you SO much for your sweet visits. 

See You Soon; and Wishing you will be fine with kind of under extreme weather.

      Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan;

At nearby Pond;

Last week, my dragonfly lover-husband whimsically went to check nearby little irrigation reservoir (pond) if he can find any;  Yey, he came back saying that he found some and took me there. 

       *Golden Flangetail*  ’ウチワヤンマ; means 'Fan Lamenting' in Japanese :-)

                              *Common Skimmer*

And 'Pseudothemis Zonata' joined:

I was sad I missed taking zoomed picture of  'Pseudothemis Zonata' 

      Common slider (赤耳ガメ, red-ear turtle) with Golden Flangetail

This so-called 'green turtle' when young, propagated in Japan once kept as pets.

My husband proudly (p:) told me that he has a bit better knowledge how they move (territory thing and id. etc).  Amazing (he doesn't have so much of good eyes) he could point out where it perched in a far distance.

Linking this post to, "Saturday's critters", CameraCritters; 

"MosaicMonday", "Our World Tuesday", and "Nature Notes"

My busy Obon days (Soba making as well, p:-) finally over♪

Normally, our summer heatwave settle down after Obon; I hope so!

Wishing you all will have a nice weekend♡♡♡