Seems like the country is diving into the short short summer break. The middle few days of August are called obon and is the time of year to welcome and console the spirits of your ancestors. It was (or still is) originally July 15th, but due to school vacation season which starts in late July and more due to media, the main stream today has become mid-August.
Sadly, if I may describe, this is not so much of a break to really welcome the ancestors’ spirits as much as it is a national event of people in the urban areas going back to their hometowns all at once.
It’s a volkerwanderung. It’s a movement of herds. In other words, the decline in religiousness of Japanese people made obon nothing so much more than plain summer break for lay businessmen.
And I, one of those lay businessmen, cannot spare a break at this time of year (geeeeez I’m holy so busy) so will do so in September instead. It’s not even close to obon but will go back to my hometown and spend some time with my family and pray for my grand grand grand grand parents.
Although, I will be off to Okinawa before that.
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