July 15 is the O-Bon celebration in Jonan town. Different areas in Japan have different dates but we welcome home the spirits of the deceased on this day by setting up colorful lanterns around the family altar and in the cemetary. Because it is rainy season, it isn't terribly practical to set up candle lit lanterns or to plug in expensive electric ones but a few families go to that trouble. Fresh flowers are set up at the grave and a fresh cup of sake as well as colorful sweets or any favorite foods of the deceased that you are remembering. It is kind of like Halloween but a bit more sacred, although there is the chance that unhappy or resentful spirits can return and be very spooky on this occasion. There are frequent ghost sitings.
Families carrying flashlights wander the narrow roads in the wet humid evening air to pay their respects to their family graves. We will go on the weekend because Maya and Taka came home so late today. We paid our tributes at the family butsidan altar.
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