Bon dance season (June-August) is one of my favorite times of the year.

Picking out the different types of people in the crowd is fun, as well. Last night, at the Honpa Hongwanji bon dance, there were the middle school kids in happi who occasionally burst into DDR-type freestyles, the young men whose dyed hair, piercings, and tattoos created a striking contrast with their smart yukata and kimono, and the young women who always remind me of presents because of the huge bows tied into their colorful obis. Also present were those who have probably been doing this their whole lives and the bon dance novices who, despite some early awkwardness, eventually managed to settle into the groove.

And then, of course, there’s the inevitable otaku kid who shows up in Bleach or Peace Maker Kurogane cosplay. They’re a bit distracting, don’t you think?

Anyway, I’m moving to SF in July, and I really hope that they have bon dances there. If not, I’ll have to come home every summer so that I don’t miss out!