San Jose’s colourful annual Obon Competition drew tons of of individuals to Japantown this weekend.
The competition is the biggest of its sort in the USA and is sponsored by the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin.
Rinban Gerald Sakamoto, the top minister of the church which organizes the occasion, will lead it for the final time as he’s retiring after 39 years.
The celebration honors family members who’ve handed away, whereas celebrating Japanese tradition and custom.
The competition’s principal attraction is the standard Bon Odori, wherein tons of of individuals carry out a group dance. The dance opens and closes with a prayer to the Buddha by the top minister.
San Jose’s Japantown is considered one of solely three left in the USA, making the competition and its traditions that rather more vital.
The Bon Odori dance begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Members of the group participate within the Odori dancing through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Members of the group participate within the Odori dancing through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Rinban Gerald Sakamoto leads gassho through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Names of ancestors are connected to lanterns that embellish the road through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church BeThe Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Members of the group eat Japanese meals through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
A festivalgoer has an excellent time together with tons of of members of the group who participate within the Odori dancing through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
A competition goer takes a have a look at a vendor’s origami cranes, that are symbols of fine luck, longevity, and happiness, through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Members of the group participate within the Odori dancing through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Members of the group participate within the Odori dancing through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
A festivalgoer has an excellent time together with tons of of members of the group who participate within the Odori dancing through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Bandanas embellish a sales space through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Members of the group participate within the Odori dancing through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Members of the group participate within the Odori dancing through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Names of ancestors are connected to lanterns that embellish the road through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
Members of the group participate within the Odori dancing through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
The San Jose Chidori band performs as members of the group participate within the Odori dancing through the Obon competition on the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon competition is an annual conventional Japanese competition that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates group. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
