Photos: San Jose’s Obon Festival draws hundreds to Japantown
San Jose’s colorful annual Obon Festival drew hundreds of people to Japantown this weekend.
The festival is the largest of its kind in the United States and is sponsored by the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin.
Rinban Gerald Sakamoto, the head minister of the church which organizes the event, will lead it for the last time as he’s retiring after 39 years.
The celebration honors loved ones who have passed away, while celebrating Japanese culture and tradition.
The festival’s main attraction is the traditional Bon Odori, in which hundreds of people perform a community dance. The dance opens and closes with a prayer to the Buddha by the head minister.
San Jose’s Japantown is one of only three left in the United States, making the festival and its traditions that much more significant.
The Bon Odori dance begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Members of the community take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Members of the community take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Rinban Gerald Sakamoto leads gassho during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Names of ancestors are attached to lanterns that decorate the street during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church BeThe Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Members of the community eat Japanese food during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) A festivalgoer has a good time along with hundreds of members of the community who take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) A festival goer takes a look at a vendor’s origami cranes, which are symbols of good luck, longevity, and happiness, during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Members of the community take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Members of the community take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) A festivalgoer has a good time along with hundreds of members of the community who take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Bandanas decorate a booth during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Members of the community take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Members of the community take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Names of ancestors are attached to lanterns that decorate the street during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Members of the community take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) The San Jose Chidori band performs as members of the community take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates community. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
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