Ginza Festival, Dancing and Singing Songs

August 15, it is O-bon festival day in Japan. How did you spend Obon festival?
In Chicago the annual “Ginza Holiday” festival was held at the Chicago Midwest Buddhist Temple. This festival became so famous that the News Program of Channel 9 introduced as Japanese cultural festival. This festival day has always been a nice weather but a hot day.

Hiroko regrets that she didn’t take the front view picture of the temple.

At first Hiroko and her friend went to the ticket counter to buy the tickets for the teriyaki chicken which is the best tasting chicken in Chicago that has been said.

Ticket booth and Beer booth next each ti other
It is better to get the chicken before leaving this place. Udon bowls, sushi dish and shaved ice (kintoki) were bought for lunch. After lunch, the air conditioned hall at where the exhibitions (vendors) were held in the basement of the temple was nice place to visit.

Sumie booth (brush painting)

Hand-made small articles --- Japanese craft books booths

About 10 Ikebana were lined up in front of the head wall. Silk flowers booth

Another hand-made articles --- hand-made frames booths

Paper dolls --- Articles made with Japanese dolls booth

Bonsai booth
All these articles except those flower arrangements were selling. They were quit expensive, because most materials came from Japan and all the articles were made by hand.

Another exhibition booths and the stage were setting out-side. On the stage Taiko performances had just finished. Regrettable for missing the Taiko performances!

The next performances were Judo and Kendo.

In this hot weather many audiences were eagerly watching.

Here are out-side exhibition booths. Please guess what kind of booths they were.






Japanese swords booth
All those articles were selling.

There was a cute boy wearing the Jinbei (Japanese craftsman’s work cloth).

Taking the picture of the boy, he noticed that and posed for Hiroko. Those cards he pointed were made by his friend’s father.
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Well, it is the time for the performance by Ukulele and Hula dance group bringing Hawaii atmosphere in Chicago. One of Hula dancer invited Hiroko and friend.

Hawaiian song was sung, and Hula dance was performed.

Hiroko’s landlord’s wife had both knee operation, but she danced very well saying “Ouch, ouch” of her knee.

Hawaiian songs were sung very well by pre-teen girls taught by their Hawaiian father every day. The MC asked them their age and about their practice.

The Last Hula dance medleys including "Aloha Oe" were performed very well.
They have been getting better year by year.

Finishing to watch the Hula Dance, now the Teriyaki chickens would be picked up.

Cooking the chicken, --- many people were enjoying their foods.
Well, let’s go home and enjoy the Teriyaki Chicken dinner.
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It has been said in the Christian community that the dancing and some kinds of songs were not appropriate to do or watch. However,
1. in the Bible King David danced wearing the Ebote (kind of the vest). King David was overjoyed to see the ark brought into the Jerusalem.
II Samuel 6:14-16
14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.
2. Israelites were freed from the bondage of the slave in the Egypt, and escaped from the danger. However, now, at the back of them there were powerful Egyptian Army and in front of them was the sea. The Lord God opened the sea and let Israelites walk on the dry land, and closed the sea over the Egyptian Army when they stepped in the dry land. All the soldiers died. Moses elder sister Miriam and other women were dancing with tambourine when they saw this scary miracle.
Exodus 15:19-20
19 When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing.