American Obon: Dancing in Joy and Remembrance
July 29 – October 15, 2017
at the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center
www.oregonnikkei.org

The summer obon festival is an eagerly anticipated event within Nikkei communities throughout North America. People come for the memorial observance, camaraderie, cultural performances, and food, but perhaps the most iconic element of the obon festival occurs when participants gather in a circle for the bon odori (obon dancing).

Reverend Yoshio Iwanaga introduced this tradition to numerous Nikkei communities along the West Coast in the 1930s, and now his pioneering activities will be celebrated in an exhibit at the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center.

American Obon will trace the development of bon odori in North America through archival photographs, audio, and rare video footage on loan from the Iwanaga family, dance scholar Linda Akiyama, and Buddhist Churches of America.

In addition, the obon tradition in Portland will be highlighted with photographs from Oregon Nikkei Endowment's Frank C. Hirahara Collection. Curated by Dr. Wynn Kiyama (Portland State University and Portland Taiko).