お盆: Japanese Festival of the Dead - OBON Sasebo 2018

Obon is a special time in Japan, full of traditions to honor loved ones who have passed. Come with me as we observe the festival in Sasebo
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Hey guys! It's Abbey!
In this video, I show you guys Sasebo’s Obon festival, one of Japan’s top 3 festivals! Obon is a Buddhist festival to commemorate one’s ancestors. It’s almost like a family reunion kind of holiday, except the ancestors are believed to come home for three days, too! Usually, the holiday is held from the 13th-15th of August every year, but in some regions, it is held on the same days in July. This is due to the differences in the lunar and solar calendar.
At the beginning of Obon, family’s will gather to clean the graves of their ancestors and do other various personal traditions of the holiday. On the third day, the ancestors return back to the spirit world, so large festivals are held. Chochin lanterns are lit to help guide the spirits back home. There are also floating paper lanterns, called Toro-Nagashi, sent into the river in memory of a loved one. It is such a beautiful sight!
Since Sasebo is located within Nagasaki Prefecture, we get a special treat; Shoro-Nagashi! This is a special ceremony where shōrōbune, or spirit boats, are paraded through the streets to a park where they will be displayed. Some time ago, they used to actually release these boats in the water so that they could float out to sea. Now they are displayed in the park until the end of the event, when they are destroyed. Spirit boats are most commonly built by those who have lost a loved one within the past year, but anyone can parade a soul boat. The boat is believed to carry the soul of the deceased into the afterlife. They are often adorned with an image of the deceased, flowers, lots of lanterns, and offerings to take into the spirit world. Firecrackers are set off in order to scare off any bad spirits.
There is also Bon Odori, or the Bon Dance! This is a lot of fun, even though I did not participate. Anyone can join in on the dance, which welcomes the ancestors!Overall, this is an amazing experience! I hope you enjoy a glimpse into it!
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Information:
About Obon:
www.jrailpass.com/blog/obon-f...
0:52 - About Toro-Nagashi:
theculturetrip.com/asia/japan...
3:33 - About the Shono-Nagashi:
www.japanvisitor.com/japanese...
8:36 - About Bon Odori:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Fes...
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🎶Music Used🎶
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“Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”
By: This Patch of Sky
TH-cam Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKBMr...
Website: www.thispatchofskymusic.com/
Bandcamp: thispatchofsky.bandcamp.com/
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[@Amadeo790]

This is just like day of the dead in Mexico. Its beautiful how similarities transcend distance and culture.

[@iAmGio91]

Im not a religious person, nor spiritual. But it feels good when people are actually doing this kind of ceremony.

[@intellectualbrain1563]

I am buddhism I learn about japanese ,chinese ,thai and myanmar culture

[@SAMMIEJO]

You did a really good job at capturing this.

[@Memeoffour]

Very Very interesting.

[@farahsafiyyah5843]

Hello! Thank you so much for this. I’m starting an art project about boon festival and your video gave me a lot of insight! Thank youuu

[@thejackadams]

Well done. Thank-you for this.

[@jonathanchristopher7087]

This is so spiritual!!

[@rarefactioncurve6310]

Thanks to this upload, I am having virtual Obon. Earlier this year my plan was to visit Japan after many years to see my family, but due to the current global situation, it did not happen, sadly. This year Obon means a lot to our family due to a loss of a family member. Hope you and your family are doing well!

[@kshook63]

Thank you for this beautiful video. I lived in Sasebo 40 years ago and Oban was always my favorite festival. You brought back many great memories.

[@eyjahafros8139]

This is so beautiful and deeply meaningful! Also you choose such a great format to show the festival - I mean, without spoken words, with only written ones. It creates an atmosphere that matches the event exactly

[@melanyrunyan7982]

Just beautiful and so touching.

[@lolamonteroa225]

Wow, it get my attention how it happens in a kind of “quiet” environment (despite the sound of the fireworks), so solemn

[@gameboymiharagame9882]

Lindo

[@UwU-lm9or]

EYYY we have them in Hawaii!

[@Unforgettxble_-]

I Must Talk about that in my Project Work so Hope that Helps me😬😓...

[@Ninjakimm]

I think all culture has something like this similar . Wester version of this would be Halloween but west has diverded it from its roots to make it more commercial thing like chrismas

[@oswon-projecthorreur7384]

I love. <3

[@nilvoidzero000]

ありがとう、すてきな

[@g.p7834]

Wow❤️ you live in japan ?