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.
The Obon festival is an annual traditional “to remember and honor those who have provided us with a strong and lasting foundation,” according to the church’s website. Community members, many dressed for the occasion in kimonos and other Japanese attire, gathered to enjoy games, music, performances, and a sampling of Japanese food, beer and sake.
Rinban Gerald Sakamoto, the head minister of the church which organizes the event, is leading it for the last time as he’s retiring after 39 years.
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 gassho, 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 will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday night if you’re interested in attending.
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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) A festivalgoer takes 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. (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. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) A festivalgoer takes 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. (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. (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. (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. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Alice Oshiro with her daughters, Desirae, 7, left, and Payton,3, of Fremont, dressed in kimonos for the occasion, attend the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Members of the community make tempura during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) Names of ancestors are attached to lanterns that light up 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) A group of women in kimonos pose for a group photo before taking 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. (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. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
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