Summer tradition/夏の風物詩

What is your image of Japan’s summer?

Is there camping, going to beaches or the mountains?
That’s right!These are typical summer activities here.
We should not forget two big summer traditions, which are fireworks displays and Bon dance.
These are related to consoling the spirits of deceased.

One of the most famous fireworks displays, called “Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival”, was originally a purification ritual.
In 1732, cholera and famine took many lives.
Then, in the following year the military leader, Tokugawa Yoshimune, held a ceremony along the Sumida river to console the spirits of the victims and hoped to ward off evil spirits with fireworks.
Today, fireworks displays are done as a form of entertainment.
Before the pandemic, there were about one million people attending every year.
They wear cotton kimono called “yukata” and enjoy drinking and eating while watching the fireworks display.

In general, fireworks displays are held on Saturdays and Sundays from the end of July to the end of August across the country.
Usually 10,000 to 30,000 fireworks are shot off within two or three hours.
Nagaoka Fireworks held in Niigata prefecture is also a famous big event.
It also originated from consoling the spirits of the victims of airborne attacks in Nagaoka during WWII and appreciating the efforts of the ancestors to rebuild the city.

As for bon dance, it was originally a religious dance with a Buddhist chant around the 10th century.
Then it was incorporated into practices called “obon” that people believe the spirits of the deceased come back to their home, so they offered fruits and vegetables to welcome them during bon period which is from the 13th to 15th of August.
People started doing bon dance to send off the spirits of the deceased.
Soon after, three-stringed guitar, called “Shamisen”, Japanese drums and bamboo flutes accompany with the songs.
The aspect of entertainment were emphasized more.
Today, some people still do bon dances for the religious purpose, but most of the people do them as an entertainment.

In general, there is a tower for the musicians in the middle of the Bon dancers.
There are also Japanese lanterns for decorations and illumination.
People make a circle to do bon dance.
When the number of the participants are increasing, they will create more circles to accommodate the dancers.

Local areas have different bon dances and music.
However, the basic steps are very easy to follow because they are only repetition of the same steps depending on the songs.
Hence, anyone can join.

If you see this kind of tower and lantern decorations, we’ll recommend you to join the festival.You’re surely going to have a fun and memorable time.

【Translation for language learners of either English or Japanese】/英語・日本語学習者向け翻訳えいご　・　　にほんごがくしゅうしゃむ　　ほんやく

日本の夏といえば、何ですか。

キャンプ、或いは海や山に行く事でしょうか。
そうですね。それらは、典型的な夏の風物詩です。
忘れてはならないのは、夏の二大イベントである花火と盆踊りです。
両方とも、亡くなった方の慰霊という意味で関連があります。

有名な花火大会の一つである『隅田川花火大会』は、元来、禊の儀式でした。
1732年、コレラと飢饉の為に多くの命が失われました。
翌年、徳川吉宗が、隅田川沿いで犠牲者を追悼する式典を行い、花火を打ち上げて悪霊を祓う願いを込めました。
今日では、花火大会は娯楽となっています。
コロナ前は、百万人の人が毎年訪れていました。浴衣を着て、花火を観ながら、お酒を飲んだり食事をしたりして楽しみます。

一般的に、花火大会は、七月下旬から八月の土日に日本中で開催されます。
大体、一万から三万発の花火が二、三時間のうちに打ち上げられます。
新潟県の長岡花火も、また有名です。
長岡花火も、長岡空襲の犠牲者の供養と、戦後の復興を成し遂げた先人たちへの感謝が起源となっています。

盆踊りに関しては、十世紀頃の仏教の念仏踊りが起源とされています。
後に、亡くなった方々の霊が家に戻ってくると信じられていた『お盆』の風習と統合されていきました。
お盆は、八月十三日から十五日で、野菜や果物をお供えしてご先祖様をお迎えします。
ご先祖様の御霊をお見送りする為に、盆踊りを始めました。
程なくして、三味線や、太鼓、横笛を伴奏に歌が歌われ、娯楽の要素がだんだんと強くなっていきました。

一般的に、楽器を演奏する人が居る櫓を中心に、提灯で飾られます。
人々は、輪を作って踊り、人数が増えれば、輪の数も増えていきます。

地方によって、盆踊りや音楽が様々です。
ただ、基本的な振付けは、曲毎に繰り返しなので、とても簡単です。
ですから、誰でも気軽に参加できます。

もし、このような櫓や提灯の飾りを見かけたら、祭りに参加される事をお勧めします。
きっと、楽しくて思い出に残る事間違いなしでしょう。

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