NikkeiWest--Northern California Japanese American Newspaper

Hundreds of festival guests will enter the Mountain View Buddhist Temple grounds at 575 North Shoreline Blvd., across from the Bailey Park Shopping Center.  The Obon Festival and Bazaar, a mid-summer Buddhist holiday, will take place on Saturday, July 16, from 4 to 10 p.m., and Sunday, July17, from 12 noon to 8:30 p.m.

Resident Minister, Rev. Dean Koyama, Co-Chairs David and Candice Maruyama and Temple President Glenn Kitasoe, welcome all to the Obon Festival.  The Temple parking and admission is free.

The festival traditionally starts with the Obon and Hatsubon Service on Sunday, July 10, at 10 a.m.  The Hatsubon Service is in memory of those who have passed away since the last Obon, 2010.  Their names will be read and a special sermon will be given by Rev. Dean Koyama.  The guest speaker this year is Rev. Grant Ikuta, from Buddhist Churches of Canada.  He became the first Canadian Sansei and third generation minister to serve within the BCC.

The Bon Odori dance practice is on July 11, 12 and 14 (outside) at 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. in the Sangha Hall Gym.

This two-day festival will feature delicious Japanese food such as tempura, sushi, udon noodles, grilled chicken & beef teriyaki, chicken salad, spam musubi, curry rice, unagi donburi, yaki manju, chi-chi dango, and ohagi.  The Western food will include corn-on-the-cob, Polish sausage, French fries, corn dog, strawberry shortcake, shaved ice, beverages and more including the “Take-Out” booth.

Cultural Exhibits include Ikebana, Suiseki Rocks, Mataro Kimekoni Dolls, and Nakayoshi Gakko and Dharma School projects.

The Flower Shop (potted plants and flowers), Cultural Bookstore, Home Crafts with gift giving ideas, Children and Adult Games, and Temple Cookbooks are all for the visitors to enjoy.

Only on Sunday, at 1 p.m., and under the white tents, the teachers will be on hand to help the children with “Children’s Hands-On Cultural Activities” including Origami paper folding, Hachimaki headband stamping, Ikebana flower arranging, Taiko drumming, Calligraphy names, Balloon twisting and Bonsai trimming and planting.

Mike Inouye, the popular and talented temple member and NBC11 Traffic Anchor, will be the entertainment Master of Ceremony.  Festival visitors will be entertained by the Temple Taiko groups organized by Yumi Higa.  They will open the festival on Saturday at 4:30 p.m., and on Sunday, at 12:30 p.m.  Jun Daiko will be playing both days, Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

On Sunday, at 6:30 p.m., Rev. Dean Koyama will hold a short service for the Obon dancers.  After the service, Rev. Koyama and dance instructor, Marilyn Ozawa (Sanjo Kanyoshi) and her assistants, Frances Sawamura, Esther Bunya, Toshiko Uyehara, Aiko Sugimoto and YBA President Ashley Andrews, will lead the dancers, dressed in cotton ukata kimono and happi coat, to the “yagura,” a wooden stage.

Starting at 7 p.m., over 400 dancers will dance in a circle, counter- clock-wise around the yagura to the music of the Chidori Band, led by Shig Tashiro.

Bill Nishimoto will do the honors as the emcee for the Chidori Band and during the Bon Odori Dance.  The Odori coordinator for 30 years, Richard Fujikawa, and his assistants, John Arima and Shig Tashiro, will take care of all the dance duties.

“The dance is to honor and remember those who have passed away, and to appreciate all that they have done for us,” said spokesperson Margaret Abe.

“Many will “Come Home” to be with family, old and new friends, and to see college friends--- a feeling of community spirit. Respect is shown by remembering the ancestors, parents and family, at this once-a-year gathering.”

The “Control Tower” overlooks the entire festival, with Bill Nishimoto, Mel Inouye, John Arima, Bob Matsumoto, Bruce Morimoto, and Eric Schindler announcing, answering questions and informing the festival visitors the various activities of the day.

This festival will give everyone an opportunity to experience and learn about the Japanese food, culture, history, arts, sights and sounds and dance.

On Sunday evening, the festival will close with a raffle drawing.

For more information, call (650) 964-9426, 941-9466, or online at www.mvbuddhisttemple.org