Photos: San Jose’s Obon Festival draws hundreds to Japantown

San Jose s colorful annual Obon Festival drew hundreds of people to Japantown this weekend The festival is the largest of its kind in the United States and is sponsored by the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin Rinban Gerald Sakamoto the head minister of the church which organizes the event will lead it for the last time as he s retiring after years The celebration honors loved ones who have passed away while celebrating Japanese beliefs and tradition The festival s main attraction is the traditional Bon Odori in which hundreds of people perform a group dance The dance opens and closes with a prayer to the Buddha by the head minister San Jose s Japantown is one of only three left in the United States making the festival and its traditions that much more vital The Bon Odori dance begins at p m on Saturday and at p m on Sunday Members of the society take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates society Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Members of the neighborhood take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates population Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Rinban Gerald Sakamoto leads gassho during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates society Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Names of ancestors are attached to lanterns that decorate the street during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church BeThe Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates society Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Members of the area eat Japanese food during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates locality Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group A festivalgoer has a good time along with hundreds of members of the society who take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates neighborhood Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group A festival goer takes a look at a vendor s origami cranes which are symbols of good luck longevity and happiness during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates public Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Members of the society take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates region Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Members of the neighborhood take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates locality Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group A festivalgoer has a good time along with hundreds of members of the public who take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates public Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Bandanas decorate a booth during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates neighborhood Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Members of the public take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates locality Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Members of the population take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates neighborhood Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Names of ancestors are attached to lanterns that decorate the street during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates district Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group Members of the population take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates society Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group The San Jose Chidori band performs as members of the area take part in the Odori dancing during the Obon festival at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose Calif on Saturday July The Obon festival is an annual traditional Japanese festival that honors and remembers ancestors and celebrates region Ray Chavez Bay Area News Group