My family and I went to two OBon festivals this month. Obon is a Japanese festival that honors deceased ancestors. Over time, in the part of California where we live, it has taken on more of a flavor of a huge multicultural party of thousands of people getting together with their families and dancing in the streets, eating delicious food, seeing authentic Japanese cultural displays, and playing bingo and carnival games. The photo above features my grandson Thomas and DIL Erika as they dance in a parade comprised of many hundreds of dancers.
In the above photo they’re joined by Thomas’ baby sister Riley. Some of you may recognize that Thomas’ outer top is made out of an old cloth bag in which rice was once sold.
Many participants wore traditional kimonos.
Taiko Drummers delight the crowd with their powerful sounds and energetic performances. We had a great time.
With Love,
Russ
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 
this looks amazing. i had never heard of this before, how lucky you could share it with your family.
It’s a lot of fun. I love to see people of many cultures enthusiastically participating.
Russ
What amazing photos
Thank you, Joanne.
Russ
That looks great, and specially when family can take part. Love his top from the rice bag, super!
I’m glad to see the culture is still being brought forward to our American Japanese…even if it was laced with a lot of Americanism. I love Thomas shirt!
I was fortunate enough as a child to have a mother who liked to meet strangers. she befriended a Japan lady who was gardening buy the side of the curb and they became great long time friends. Her friend made me a kimono for a similar festival…I wished I’d kept it because it was quite special. Eventually the lady moved back to Japan and my mother did go visit here there, twice.
I’m glad you all had a good time and that you are sharing it with us.