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日本盂兰盆节：以灯火与舞蹈缅怀先人

Obon is a Buddhist festival in Japan that lasts for three days each summer.
Families clean graves, offer food, and light small paper lanterns called chochin.
Many people return to their hometowns during Obon, making it one of Japan’s busiest travel periods.
Bon Odori dances are performed in yukata—light cotton kimonos—under open skies.
These circular dances symbolize joy, gratitude, and the gentle return of ancestral spirits.
Unlike Western holidays focused on celebration, Obon emphasizes quiet reflection and filial duty.
Children often join elders in lighting lanterns, learning how respect flows across generations.
In Kyoto, the famous Gozan no Okuribi sends giant fire characters down mountains at dusk.
Though modern life has shortened some rituals, most Japanese still observe Obon with sincerity.
Visitors who watch silently or join a dance circle are welcomed as part of the shared memory.