August 11, 2016 • mccsokinawa.com
Thomas Alan Smilie
H
ear that? It's the booming sounds of drums and the pleasant twang of the sanshin (a threestringed banjo), accompanied by strident voices of young Okinawan dancers warming up for their eisa performances—it's time for Obon on Okinawa. Eisa, the dance traditionally performed during Obon, has been a summertime mainstay on the island for hundreds of years. Obon is one of the more important holidays to the people of Japan and Okinawa—many here believe that deceased ancestors are allowed to visit the homes of their families during the three-day “festival of the dead.” Eisa is performed during Obon to honor and welcome returning ancestral spirits and send them back to their resting places with the thunderous sounds of taiko drums. Preparations for Obon are quite extensive. The butsudan (the family altar) and the home must be cleared and cleaned to welcome both living and deceased relatives, food is prepared and gifts purchased. During these three days,
inside
the living enjoy time with their ancestors’ spirits. The first day is Unke, or the “welcoming day.” On Unke, the doors of the home containing the butsudan (prepared with offerings of food and drink) are opened to welcome the spirits. Lanterns are lit to help spirits find their way, and family members stand at the door to welcome spirits when darkness falls. Nakanohi, or the “middle day,” is spent visiting the family butsudan, bringing gifts called ochûgen (usually daily staples such as rice, katsuobushi, or tea) and seeing more distant relatives’ butsudan, too. Ûkui, or the “escorting day,” is the final day of Obon. Lavish farewell dinners are prepared and placed in special boxes called jyûbako. Living family members light incense, pray for protection from bad luck and often beg forgiveness for not visiting more often. With burning incense in the butsudan, the final feast commences. Meals of scraps and weeds are prepared for the departing spirits. These meals, along with offerings
"HITT" the Water with AMP-IT! | 3 Body by You Boot Camp | 3 Culture Corner: Mountain Day | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
"Obon is one of the more important holidays to the people of Japan and Okinawa..." including “spirit money,” are gifted to ancestral spirits during ceremonies held late at night to send them back to their resting places—accompanied by the spirited sounds of eisa dancing. This year Obon is August 15 through 17. A brand-new Japanese holiday is also celebrated this week, Mountain Day. For more information, read “Culture Corner” and our “Pick of the Week” on pages 5 and 7.
Pick of the Week: Okinawa's "Fuji" | 7 Dare to Test Your Limits | 9 Off-Base Events | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11