A major Japanese Buddhist festival takes place in August called Obon. It has beautiful aspects of family reunions, local gatherings, and lantern spectacles. Yet there is a troubling side for Japanese Christians. 

Obon is one of the three most important annual festivals in Japan. It speaks powerfully of devotion to family. However, this may include honoring the spirits of the family’s ancestors. The day for reverencing one’s ancestors has a long, long tradition in Japan, existing even before Buddhism arrived in the country in the sixth century A.D. An ancient idea was that the living family members could offer their good deeds on behalf of the dead, who they believed were in agony—hanging upside down in hell. This offering would open hell so their ancestors’ spirits could be released..  

Many of these original beliefs have evolved or entirely disappeared, and new traditions have grown up. Now families often light a lantern in front of their house or a candle at their altar to guide their ancestors’ spirits home for a short four-day release. During this time, they may offer food and prayers at gravesites, update the spirits on recent happenings, and attend a temple with the recitation of Buddhist scriptures. The celebrants may also take part in a neighborhood folk dance. At the end of the festival, in order to assist the spirits in their return to the other realms, many families—some of whom are just following traditions rather than beliefs—send small boats carrying lanterns and foodstuff down streams, leading the spirits to the ocean.

Observing Obon is a strong tradition even for those who are not Buddhist, for it speaks of care and respect for one’s elders while providing some interesting activities. For those people who find comfort in the idea of their deceased loved ones’ homecoming, it is an extremely significant festival. The lanterns and boats also offer a wonderful spectacle to everyone. However, Christians understand that the root of the festival’s traditions is contrary to their faith. They believe the spirits do not really visit, could not be helped by material offerings, and should not be prayed to as powerful beings. 

The third book in the Dragonfly Trilogy attempts to show the Obon dilemma for the main character. Without giving a spoiler, I can say that early in the story, she does not deal well with her family’s visit to the gravesite.  

When I lived in Japan in the 1960’s, I participated in a neighborhood Obon folk dance, having been assured by my Christian friend that it had no religious connotations. I’m not sure even now if that was the case. But this shows how hard it is for a foreigner like me to understand and explain the festival. For this overview, I relied on a little book by Tatsumi Hashimoto for the historical information and additional pastoral insights.[1] 

During this year’s festival, may the Lord give wisdom and strength to the Christians as they show love, care, and respect to their families while avoiding the appearance of ancestor worship.  

[1] Hashimoto, Tatsumi. Ancestor Worship and Japanese Daily Life. Tokyo, Japan: Word of Life Press, 1962.