Toronto City Hall Dancers (Bon Odori) at the Obon Festival; Toronto, 1972
NNM 2010.23.2.4.344
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SJCTM - 17 - Obon
In this episode, Raymond and Carolyn discuss the Buddhist holiday of Obon, and how it is celebrated in Japan and Canada. Obon is a summer festival held in remembrance of deceased ancestors, but rather than being a sombre occasion, it is seen as a time to celebrate and show gratitude to those who came before. It is one of the major holidays in Japan, and an important cultural occasion for Japanese Canadian communities across Canada.
Further reading
Adachi, Ken. The Enemy that Never Was. Toronto: McLelland and Stewart Ltd., 1976.
Japan Buddhist Federation. "A Guide to Japanese Buddhism". BuddhaNet. Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc.
Usuki, Patti, Rev. "What is Obon?". Buddhist Churches of America.
Watada, Terry. Bukkyo Tozen: A History of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in Canada 1905-1995. Canada: Webcom Ltd., 1996.
---. The TBC: The Toronto Buddhist Church 1995-2010. Toronto: The TBC Sangha and HpF Press, 2010.