Japanese Folk Dance and Drumming at Bon Odori Festival

JAPANESE FOLK DANCE AND DRUMMING TO HIGHLIGHT ANNUAL TACOMA BON ODORI

TACOMA, WASH. The annual Tacoma Bon Odori festival of Japanese dance, drumming and food returns on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012.

The public is invited to join the festivities from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Tacoma Buddhist Temple, located three blocks up the hill from the University of Washington Tacoma campus.

Each summer, hundreds of festival-goers flock to the celebration, which is rooted in Japanese and Buddhist traditions honoring one’s ancestors. The observance is also called Obon.

The colorful event features scores of dancers – most clad in colorful kimonos, yukatas and happi coats – performing Japanese folk dances in the street. However, people don’t need the traditional dress to participate, and even first-time visitors are encouraged to dance.

Festival-goers can also enjoy taiko drum performances by the Tacoma temple’s Fuji Taiko group and the Seattle Buddhist Temple’s Matsuri Taiko.

The Obon menu will include such crowd favorites as teriyaki chicken bowl, chili rice bowl, cold somen noodles, Spam musubi rice cakes, daifuku mochi pastry, pie, hot dogs and shave ice. New this year is the unagi bowl, a delicious entrée of grilled eel, teriyaki sauce, pickled cabbage tsukemono and rice.

Adults 21 and older can quench their thirst in a beer garden featuring beer and rice wine sake.

The evening concludes with a candlelight memorial.

Tacoma Bon Odori 2012
Where: Tacoma Buddhist Temple, 1717 S. Fawcett, Tacoma, WA 98402
When: Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, 5 to 9 p.m.
Admission: Free
More info: www.tacomabt.org or call the temple at 253-627-1417.