Sunday, August 16, 2015

Obon Festival

As a culture the Japanese have a very strong connection and reverence for their ancestors. Obon is the season when they welcome their spirits home for a visit and then send them away again at the close of Obon. It is very important to many families to travel home and be with relatives during this time. A lot of the traditions during Obon play out in family homes and cemeteries, but the most visible and accessible part of Obon is the last night where they once again say their farewells until the next summer. It is yet another reminded of the selfless unity and respect that is ingrained in this culture that is a beautiful thing to witness.  Families write the names of family members on little lantern boats to float down the river. They also decorate them and add personal touches. The paper lanterns are a representation of the thin veil that separates the living from the dead and the belief that their ancestors will always be with them.
It was fun going with some great friends!

The boats are blessed and purified with chanting and incense, thought to lead and encourage the souls on their journey.
Family members take care in decorating their lanterns

The lanterns are then lit before being sent on their way

Some lanterns are passed hand to hand by event volunteers before being set into the river, while others are pushed down a little chute by the families themselves. It was a very touching thing to watch, one sweet old lady said "Sayonara" as she cried while pushing her little lantern away. 
I love that some made little lanterns like the one on the right with a picture of a beloved dog


Selfies take teamwork!
Lovely mother, daughter duo
Shoro Nagashi or the Spirit Boat Procession is a part of Obon found mainly in Kyushu in the Nagasaki region. Sasebo has their own parade of boats celebrating Obon. Families and friends who have lost someone that year build a boat in their honor. They lovingly carry their loved one's spirit from their earthly home are release them into the spirit world. The streets are filled with boat after boat and the sound and smell of fireworks can be recognized from a distance. At the end of the festival the boats are destroyed.  Obon is a time of joy mingled with sadness. The families are grateful that their relatives could come spend time with them after their passing, but followed by great sadness that they must return back again. I loved seeing these beautiful boats that were made with so much love that hold the photo/photos of loved ones, friends, and even pets were honored with their own boat.


Families buy food and gifts for their ancestors and leave them as an offering for them to take with them. This pile was massive!
Mariah showing off little Patrick
We also randomly saw Captain Jack Sparrow
I think this will be pretty hard to top as far as being one of the most beautiful things I will witness here in Japan.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Kujukushima Zoo and Botanical Garden

Sasebo has an adorable little zoo park in Funakoshicho. It's one of the smallest zoos I've been to, but it is worth going to because the smallness affords you a unique experience. They keep it open until 9 pm in  the summer, and it is easy to walk around (especially with a toddler) They have a beautiful glass greenhouse and just the right amount of animals without being overwhelming. I'm so glad wonderful Kyoko and her friends let us tag along with them!
All the kids
The babies were so enthralled with each other.
One of my favorite exhibits was the unique penguin facility. There were several levels where you could view the penguins from above, underwater, and even underneath! The underneath view was really fun because the poor penguins finally get their chance to look like they are flying.
You can feed the ring-tailed lemurs grapes
Eisley stopping to smell the flowers
I love how the Japanese zoos are so hands on!
The elephant getting its nighttime bath. 
Overall it is a fun little zoo and worth it if you have little ones! Eisley loves seeing the animals and it made her day being able to run around and point at all of them.