Obon Festival returns to San Jose following assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — Hundreds of years of culture and tradition have been on exhibit Saturday at San Jose’s Obon Festival.

Obon is a Japanese Buddhist tradition, committed to remembering and honoring the lifeless.

“We will not do this a total good deal, so becoming capable to do this as soon as a yr is actually awesome to appear jointly with everybody and be capable to rejoice,” claimed Ashley MacDonald.

Ashley MacDonald is a fourth technology Japanese American.

She dances in the pageant every single year, something that is become a relatives custom.

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“We dance in remembrance of people who have passed, buddies and household. And we basically have a lantern up right here for our grandma,” MacDonald claimed.

But this weekend’s festival is also about much more than just remembering private beloved kinds misplaced. It really is also a chance to reflect on current gatherings.

One of the events on quite a few people’s minds Saturday was the assassination of previous Japanese Primary Minister Shinzo Abe.

Abe was Japan’s longest serving key minister, and a single of it truly is most influential due to the fact the finish of World War II.

Gun-similar fatalities are exceptionally unusual in Japan, and Abe’s killing has sent shockwaves by means of the Japanese local community each listed here in the Bay Spot, and about the earth.

Video clip: Shinzo Abe assassination: Previous primary minister’s dying raises stability thoughts as Japan mourns

“I was feeling like that is unachievable. By no means read of that type of matter in Japan,” claimed pageant goer, Huaino Hung.

And whilst Obon is one of the highlights for the Japanese group in the South Bay, its organizers say anyone is welcome.

Regaining a sense of local community, right after getting the pandemic forces us aside.

“We are incredibly open up. You will find no need right here. You you should not have to be Buddhist, you will not have to be Japanese. Occur down, get pleasure from the food items, get pleasure from the dancing,” reported Michael Jones, of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin.