Bon Odori dance at Los Angeles Nishi Hongwanji. Bon Odori is an informal dance by ordinary people in Japan. The Japanese American communities in California have enjoyed this people’s dance since 1930s. Every year people return to Buddhist temples to dance. (Cultural News Photo)
Cultural News, June 2010 Issue
Bon Odori Dance is an annual summer fixture in Japan during August. Dance circles are formed spontaneously by ordinary people just for fun. Here in Southern California and Arizona, Bon Odori is known as Buddhist temple events in the months of June and July. But with each passing year, this informal dance is gaining popularity beyond the Japanese American community.
Bon Odori in Japan can be traced back to the 15th century. Originally, people danced for a ritual purpose, but eventually the dancing became more of an entertainment. In the past, Bon Odori became extremely gaudy at times, and it was banned frequently from the15th century until the Meiji era in the 19th century.
In Japan, Buddhist temples never host the Bon Odori on their temple grounds. Nowadays, the Bon Odori is usually organized by laypeople and takes place at an open-space or park.
On the West Coast of the United States, a Japanese priest of the Jodo Shinshu school as known as Nishi Hongwanji temples introduced Bon Odori to the Japanese immigrant community in the 1930s and this tradition continues today.
Every year, Cultural News gathers Bon Odori schedules for dance enthusiasts:
June 12
Arizona Buddhist Temple
4142 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85019, (602) 278-0036, ABT_AZ@juno.com
Bon Odori at 4:00pm
June 26, 27
Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center
1766 Seabright Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813
Japanese festival, Saturday 3:00 – 9:00 PM, Sunday 1:00-7:30PM
June 26, 27
Sun Valley Japanese Community Center
8850 Lankershim Blvd, Sun Valley, CA 91352
Bon Odori at 5:00-10:00pm
June 26
Senshin Buddhist Temple
1311 W. 37th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007, (323) 731-4617, www.senshintemple.org
Bon Odori at 7:00pm
June 26
West Covina Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple
1203 W. Puente Avenue, West Covina, Calif. 91790, (626) 913-0622 www.livingdharma.org
Bon Odori at 7:30pm
July 3, 4
San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
9450 Remick Avenue, Pacoima, CA 91331, (818) 899-4030, www.sfvhbt.org
Bon Odori at 6:30pm
July 10, 11
Los Angeles Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
815 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 680-9130 www.nishihongwanji-la.org
Bon Odori: Saturday at 7:00 pm; Sunday at 6:30pm
July 10, 11
Zenshuji Soto Mission
123 South Hewitt Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 624-8658, www.zenshuji.org
July 10
Oxnard Buddhist Temple
250 S. “H” Street, Oxnard, CA 93030, (805) 483-5948 www.oxnardbuddhisttemple.org
Bon Odori at 6:00pm, 8:00pm
July 17, 18
Orange County Buddhist Church
909 So. Dale Street, Anaheim, CA 92804, (714) 827-9590, www.ocbuddhist.org
Bon Odori at 7:00pm
July 17, 18
Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
12371 Braddock Drive, Culver City, CA 90230, (310) 391-4351, www.vhbt.org
Bon Odori at 6:30pm
July 18
Guadalupe Buddhist Church
1072 Olivera Street, Guadalupe, CA 93434, (805) 343-1053
Bon Odori at noon
July 24, 25
Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple
505 E. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, Calif. 90013, (213) 626-4200 www.hhbt-la.org
Bon Odori at 6:30pm
July 24, 25
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
2003 Corinth Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025, (310) 477-7274, www.wlabt.org
Bon Odori at 6:30pm
July 24, 25
Pasadena Buddhist Church
1993 Glen Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103, (626) 798-4781, www.PasadenaBuddhistTemple.org
Bon Odori at 6:30pm
July 24, 25
Vista Buddhist Temple
150 – Bldg. B Cedar Road, Vista, CA 92083, (760) 941-8800, www.vbtemple.org
Bon Odori at 7:00pm
July 31
Buddhist Temple of San Diego
2929 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92102, (619) 239-0896, www.btsd.net
Bon Odori at 6:30pm
July 31
San Luis Obispo Buddhist Temple
6996 Ontario Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405, (805) 595-2625 www.slobuddhisttemple.org
Bon Odori at 7:00pm
July 31, August 1
Gardena Buddhist Church
1517 W. 166th Street, Gardena, CA 90247, (310) 327 – 9400, www.gardenabuddhistchurch.org
Bon Odori at 6:00pm
Bon Odori Dance at Los Angeles Nishi Hongawanji