Bon Odori and Tanabata, July 26, 2008
Japan
Society of Fairfield County continued to celebrate its 20th
anniversary with a Bon Odori Summer Festival on Jesup Green in
Westport. We had two very special guests this year. The
festival was opened by Mr. Gordon F. Joseloff, First Selectman of
Westport. This year we were very fortunate to be able to
add Mr. Ichiro Oikado, a traditional strolling performer from
Japan, to the 2008 celebration.
A new dance was introduced this year by our
dance
instructor, Ms. Junko
Fisher. This was the Okinawa "Inashiri Bushi" dance.
After a quick lesson, the audience enjoyed joining in both with this
dance and the more familiar “Tanko-Bushi” and “Chowa Ondo” dances.
Just in case the Lion Dance luck was not enough, children could also
Make a Wish at the Tanabata Star Festival. Along with a Water
Yo-Yo, courtesy of Amnet, and their wish on a decorated bamboo shoot,
the children were happy and the parents could relax and just admired
the beautiful summer yukata and kimono.
Ichiro,
a
traditional strolling performer, was such a favorite at the
JSFC’s Bon Odori festival that the society asked him to return to
Greenwich for some additional performances. Coming from a 400
year old tradition, Ichiro has been ‘’strolling” for the past 20 years
performing at fairs, street festivals, nursing homes, kids parties and
private homes. He has just arrived in New York after over a year
in Latin America. The residents of Nathaniel Witherell were
thrilled by his Lion Dance which “eats negative things and makes
joy.” Visitors to the St Catherine of Siena Carnival were
surprised to encounter a range of Japanese characters appearing between
the big band events. The children at Greenwich point were laughed
and screamed as first a lion approached then magically turned into a
Japanese lady who kissed them. But the greatest fun was at the
end when the kids were made up like the performer and could crawl
through his long carp costume.