Obon — a Japanese Buddhist festival that honors the dead — is one of the city’s longest-running cultural events, dating back certainly to the post-World War II period and probably back to the 1930s. And while San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin has kept the community engaged with Obon@Home festivals the past two years, it feels great to have the real thing back again — even if it is somewhat scaled back as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two-day “Back to Obon” festival included taiko groups from Stanford and UC-Berkeley. Entertainment continued throughout the day, including San Jose Taiko performances both days, and culminated each evening with the Obon Odori dance.
The past two years the festival was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: Alex Suzuki Hudson, of San Jose, performs with San Jose Taiko during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: Eva Chou,3, of San Jose, sits on her father Richard Chou’s shoulders during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: Gianna Vitarelli,15, of San Jose, and Bella Nakamura.16, of San Jose, dance during the Odori dance at the Obon Festival in front of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: People take photos during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: People participate in Odori dancing during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: Yurika Chiba, of San Jose, performs with San Jose Taiko during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: Eva Chou,3, of San Jose, dances with her father Richard Chou during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: San Jose Chidori band plays music during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: San Jose Taiko performs during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuinin San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: San Jose Taiko performs during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuinin San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JULY 9: San Jose Taiko performs during the Obon Festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuinin San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
