Let's Try This Bon Odori Thing

Shredded ice and my jimbei.

Obon is kind of a big deal, as far as festivals go. Though it isn't treated as an affair as grim as it sounds, at the very root of it, it's a celebration of the memory of the deceased, be it the recently deceased or ancestors long gone. And Japan being such an ancient country, you can bet there's a lot of ancestry involved. On the surface though, it's a rather cheery thing! Children are somewhat abundant and little booths sell water-filled balloon toys and shredded ice with syrup. Go figure.
 Rather than being a single concentrated event, Obon festivals take place in every corner of town, large neighborhoods and small ones alike, on many nights throughout the Summer. My neighborhood had theirs recently! So I delved in.
 I came equipped! I actually got to pull out my jimbei, which is a form of traditional clothing much easier to wear than the yukata, which is the Summer kimono. Though it isn't absolutely necessary to wear traditional clothing during Obon, most people do.

 In a nutshell, here's what happens: a large stage is erected in the center of a square and lanterns hung. Up on the stage, drummers play music to the beat of very ancient songs, and a procession of dancers (everyday people from the neighborhood, mostly the elderly) dance around the stage, usually clockwise. The motions to the dance vary from song to song, and the songs vary from region to region, but most of them are tied to the area in which the festival is taking place. A region with a history of mining may have a dance that looks like shoveling. 

Altogether, it's a merry little thing and quite a few kids also join in.
 I actually very briefly joined the dance and gave it a try. I suddenly felt very awkward and jumped out like a man on fire. I'm sorry for all those whose ancestors I've shamed! There's a video of it, but I'd much sooner take it with me to the grave. I'll try harder if I go next year!