veronica 2 Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 Anyone do any "traditional Japanese" things for obon? (I don't mean queueing for trains and stuff more like spend time with Japanese family and take part in whatever it is they do for obon). Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 I spent my Obon resisting my mother-in-law's attempts to keep me and my son away from water because of the vengeful spirits known to reside there over that period. I got pretty pissed off after a while. "Demo, (significant yokome eye-contact) kyotsukesaiya!" Watching the old dear hobbling about busying herself making meals for people who aren't there when she clearly needed a rest herself also got me a little exasperated. Watching local fireworks was fun, as was seeing what a little yankee my wife's friend's daughter has become. Link to post Share on other sites
sakebomb 0 Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 Yeh, I got the obon "don't go near the beach" talk as well. I am more afraid of the garbage there than any vengeful spirit!! Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 I also enjoyed watching the priest in his silly, hot, old-fashioned dress wrestling with the front gate and taking about five minutes to get it open. After spending an Obon being plagued by ridiculous Buddhist superstitions, I was quite surprised at the strength of my anti-clerical feelings. Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 With so many gods and spirits, at least we have a choice. It's a big improvement on having someone's one and only god rammed down your throat because their's is the only way. Link to post Share on other sites
USA 0 Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 What fun it seems this Obon is. This part intrigues me "busying herself making meals for people who aren't there" Link to post Share on other sites
sakebomb 0 Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 My daughter steals food/snacks off "people who aren't there", is this a good thing? Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 Dame! Link to post Share on other sites
USA 0 Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 I think I get it now. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted August 20, 2005 Share Posted August 20, 2005 Obon is a festival for the dead. The spirits return home apparently, and the bad ones pull at your legs when you go for a swim (although they don't infest baths). You have to feed them with little meals although they don't appear to have much appetite for material food. They like nothing better than the sound of a man in a see-through dress saying "Unbun unbun deebun unbun dabun drunbun - ting!" Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted August 23, 2005 Share Posted August 23, 2005 Dead is also how you feel if you use public transport around that time.... I was caught up in it as well this year unfortunately. Link to post Share on other sites
USA 0 Posted August 28, 2005 Share Posted August 28, 2005 Thanks Ocean. Link to post Share on other sites
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