Bon Odori

Through the Atsugi Officer's Spouses Association (AOSA),  I was able to participate in this seasons Bon Odori.  All participants met each smoldering Thursday from 10:00-11:30am in the 

non-airconditioned gym on base.  We were fortunate to have two Japanese volunteers to teach us.  They have taught American women Bon Odori for over ten years!  (And once you see the video below, you will wonder why they graciously sign on again and again).  

Bon , or obon, is the Buddhist festival for paying respect to the spirits of ancestors.  It is believed that during the season, specifically between August 13-15, the spirits of the ancestors return.  Bon is commonly celebrated through festivals and dancing.  Traditionally, one wears his/her yukata (summer kimono - which we unseasoned Americans had Japanese ladies dress us each festival).

Odori is a traditional Japanese dance originating in the Edo period and consists of movements welcoming the ancestors.  Today, the music and movements differ upon regions and often depict history, work or geography.  For example, one of the most common dances tells the story of coal mining.  In the dance, the movements mimic digging and loading the cart.  

I danced and enjoyed three Obon festivals this season.

Yamato Awa Odori

July 28th

The Yamato Awa Odori festival was literally minutes from our house and outside our local train station.  It was a massive festival in which we paraded through the streets dancing for over an hour.  I have more pictures from this festival as Tim was a diligent, supporting husband and he followed us as the resident photographer and local water boy.  

Japanese Awa dancers

NAF Atsugi Bon Dancers

HSL-51 Spouses L-R

Leslie, Paige, Lauren, Jennifer, Rachel, Stephanie, Mary Katherine, Kelly, Jen, Me, Brittany H., Leslie

Lauren Abner whose husband is Tim's roommate and close friend on the ship.  

Jennifer Kiser is a good friend of mine and the wife of Tim's boss on the boat (she is also in the Navy Reserves and a former helicopter pilot).

Mary Katherine Dann is a fellow HSL-51 pilot

NAF AWA ODORI DANCERS

Awa dancers do not mess around.  In fact, the group of ladies is comprised of all Japanese (as they fear Americans will not commit to practice for multiple hours every day) except for one: Rebekah, our sponsor's wife.  Likewise, the group of male dancers consists of Japanese men from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (also located at NAF Atsugi) except for three:  the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and Command Master Chief of NAF Atsugi!  The group of Awa dancers are accompanied by lute, taiko drums, flute and bells.  

Rebekah, our sponsor

CO and XO

CMC

My partner in most crimes, Lauren

Yamato Furisato
Aug 4th

The Yamato Furisato festival was also held at our local train station.  However, this was a smaller festival with less food and a significantly smaller crowd.  Instead of parading through the streets, we danced around a scaffold decorated with traditional obon lanterns.  We took turns as dancers performing on the stage.  The public joined in dancing around the grounds.  It was quite interesting watching the difference between the American women, having only recently learned the dances, and the Japanese ladies who danced with fluid and rhythmic motions.  

Lauren and Kyle Abner

Tim, Mary Katherine, Kyle and Jeff

Our Japanese dance teacher and other AOSA ladies dancing on the scaffold

NAF Atsugi American Festival and Bon Odori

August 18th

I am not exactly sure what the NAF Atsugi American festival had to do with Bon Odori.  However, the American festival was early afternoon and then the Bon Odori festival was open to the Japanese public in the evening.  Like in Yamato, we danced around the scaffold and took turns dancing on the stage.  My student, Jodi, and her two daughters attended the festival and danced with us for a good hour. 

HSL-51 spouses preparing to dance

L-R: Me, Brittany H., Mary Katherine, Jennifer, Paige, Lauren, Kelly

Brittany N., Rachel, Jen

For the American Festival, the USO brought in Edwin McCain.  Mr. McCain, as all women in their mid 20's will remember, was responsible for that sing songy theme to Dawson's Creek "I'll Be" (and for his song with Hootie and the Blowfish).  He was quite good in person!  And very kind!

Mr. McCain singing to Rachel - her husband, Ernie, is a huge fan!

Ernie, Rachel, and Mr. McCain listening to the National Anthem

 My groupie

Group picture

Our Japanese instructors in front

With our Japanese dancers

My Student, Jodi, in the black shirt

AWA ODORI DANCERS  from NAF ATSUGI- same as previous festival

Rebekah

CO and XO

Our cheering section. One of the wives of the "higher ups" on base commented how remarkable it was that HSL-51 had so many officers come out to support the wives!

The pilots from L-R:

Angie, Rob, Andy (our sponsor), Jeff, Tim, Kyle, Boss Kiser (Tim's current boss on the boat), 

Skipper Walt (the former Skipper that left last month), Boss Cole and Boss Chastain

I look forward to next season!