Obon

It totally forgot about the obon festival until about 30 minutes after it started.  The family was really great about rushing into the car and leaving without even knowing why.  I think it helped that it was bedtime and if we went somewhere that meant they got to stay up late.

Obon is a Japanese holiday where they remember and celebrate their ancestors that passed on.  They make elaborate and sometimes not elaborate floats dedicated to a person who died the past year and parade them through town.

They set off these super loud fire crackers to ward off evil spirits.

Some of the floats were really cool.

It is a pretty loud and happy event.  Not at all like a funeral even though I would think it could be sad because they are honoring people who recently died.  Everyone seemed to be really enjoying themselves.

I like getting to experience holidays and events from different cultures.  That is one good thing about living overseas.