Portland Japanese Garden will bring a centuries-old Japanese tradition to life this weekend with its annual Bon-Odori Summer Festival on Saturday, Aug. 23.
A highlight of summer festivals in Japan, bon-odori (or Bon dance) combines music, movement and community. Rooted in Japanese Buddhist tradition, the dances are performed to honor and send off the spirits of ancestors while also celebrating the joy of life. Each region of Japan has its own variation of dance and music.
At Portland Japanese Garden, the celebration will begin with taiko drumming and shamisen ensemble songs performed by Takohachi and Kotori-Kai. Dance instructor Chris Dart, along with dancers from the Oregon Buddhist Temple, will then guide audiences through three sets of bon-odori. The program will highlight dances from different eras in Japan, from the 1920s to the 1990s, before concluding with popular bon dances that took root in the United States.
The festival also offers visitors a chance to experience the festive atmosphere of summer in Japan, complete with participants dressed in yukata (light cotton kimono) and the sounds of traditional instruments surrounding the garden’s central yagura, a raised wooden platform for musicians and singers.
In addition to the festival, visitors can explore Behind the Shoji, the garden’s annual summer marketplace open through Sept. 1. Hosted inside the Pavilion Gallery, the marketplace features Japanese and Japanese-inspired wares, from handcrafted furniture and décor to textiles and antiques.
Organizers describe Bon-Odori as family-friendly and welcoming to all ages, with opportunities for attendees to both watch and join in the dancing. Admission to the festival is included with regular entry to Portland Japanese Garden ($22.50 for adults).
If you go: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 23; Portland Japanese Garden, 611 S.W. Kingston Ave., japanesegarden.org
— Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; [email protected] or @chiaraprofenna.
The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.