Bon Odori dance is an annual summer fixture in Japanese American communities in Southern California. This photo shows Bon Odori at Los Angeles Hongwanji Buddhist Temple as known as Nishi Hongwanji Temple in Little Tokyo. (Cultural News Photo)
Bon Odori dance 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. Bon Odori was definitely a spontaneous people's event in past centuries. 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:
2011 Bon Odori Schedule in Southern California and its vicinities
June 11
Arizona Buddhist Temple
4142 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85019, (602) 278-0036,
ABT_AZ@juno.com
Bon Odori: Saturday, 6:45 - 9:00 pm
June 25, 26
Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center
1766 Seabright Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813
Japanese festival: Saturday, 3:00 - 9:00 pm, Sunday 1:00- 8:00 pm
Bon Odori: TBA
June 25
West Covina Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple
1203 W. Puente Avenue, West Covina, Calif. 91790, (626) 913-0622
www.livingdharma.org
Bon Carnival: 2:00 - 9:00 pm
Bon Odori: Saturday, 7:30 - 9:00 pm
June 25, 26
Sun Valley Japanese Community Center
8850 Lankershim Blvd, Sun Valley, CA 91352
Bon Odori: Saturday, 7:00 -10:00pm; Sunday, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
July 2
Senshin Buddhist Temple
1311 W. 37th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007, (323) 731-4617,
www.senshintemple.org
Bon Odori: Saturday, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Omairi, Sento Shogo, Otoki, 9:00 - 10:00 pm
Horaku entertainment, 10:00 - 11:00 pm
July 2, 3
San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
9450 Remick Avenue, Pacoima, CA 91331, (818) 899-4030, www.sfvhbt.org
Bon Carnival: Saturday, 4:30 - 9:00 pm; Sunday, 4:30 - 9:00 pm
Bon Odori: Saturday, 7:00 - 9:00 pm; Sunday, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
July 9, 10
Zenshuji Soto Mission
123 South Hewitt Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 624-8658,
www.zenshuji.org
Bon Carnival: Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Bon Odori: Saturday, 5:30 - 6:00 pm; Sunday, 6:00 - 6:30 pm
July 9, 10
Los Angeles Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
815 East First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 680-9130
www.nishihongwanji-la.org
Bon Carnival: Saturday, 3:00 - 9:00 pm; Sunday, 3:00 - 9:00 pm
Bon Odori: Saturday, 7:00 - 9:00 pm; Sunday, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
July 9
Oxnard Buddhist Temple
250 S. "H" Street, Oxnard, CA 93030, (805) 483-5948
www.oxnardbuddhisttemple.org
Bon Odori: Saturday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
July 16, 17
Orange County Buddhist Church
909 So. Dale Street, Anaheim, CA 92804, (714) 827-9590,
www.ocbuddhist.org
Bon Carnival: Saturday, 2:00 - 9:00 pm; Sunday, 2:00 - 9:00 pm
Bon Odori: Saturday, 7:00 - 9:00 pm; Sunday, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
July 16, 17
Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
12371 Braddock Drive, Culver City, CA 90230, (310) 391-4351, www.vhbt.org
Bon Odori: Saturday, 6:30 - 9:00 pm; Sunday, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
July 23, 24
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
2003 Corinth Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025, (310) 477-7274,
www.wlabt.org
Bon Odori: Saturday, 6:30 - 10:00 pm; Sunday, 6:30 - 10:00 pm
July 23, 24
Pasadena Buddhist Church
1993 Glen Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103, (626) 798-4781,
www.PasadenaBuddhistTemple.org
Bon Odori: Saturday, 6:30 - 9:00 pm; Sunday, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
July 23, 24
Vista Buddhist Temple
150 Bldg. B Cedar Road, Vista, CA 92083, (760) 941-8800,
www.vbtemple.org
Bon Odori: Saturday, 6:30 - 10:00 pm; Sunday, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
July 24
Guadalupe Buddhist Church
1072 Olivera Street, Guadalupe, CA 93434, (805) 343-1053
Bon Odori: Sunday, 3:00 - 4:00 pm
July 30
Buddhist Temple of San Diego
2929 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92102, (619) 239-0896, www.btsd.net
Bon Odori: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
July 30, 31
Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple
505 E. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, Calif. 90013, (213) 626-4200
www.hhbt-la.org
Bon Festival: Saturday, 12:00 - 9:00 pm; Sunday, 12:00 - 9:00 pm
Bon Odori: Saturday, 6:30 - 9:00 pm; Sunday, 6:30 ? 9:00 pm
August 6, 7
Gardena Buddhist Church
1517 W. 166th Street, Gardena, CA 90247, (310) 327-9400,
www.gardenabuddhistchurch.org
Bon Carnival: Saturday, 3:00 - 10:00 pm; Sunday, 2:00 - 10:00 pm
Bon Odori: Saturday, 6:00 - 10:00 pm; Sunday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
August 6
San Luis Obispo Buddhist Temple
6996 Ontario Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405, (805) 595-2625
Bon Odori: Saturday, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
August 13
Las Vegas Buddhist Sanga
Address: TBA
Bon Odori: Saturday, 12:45 - 3:30 pm
