American Bon Odori: Dancing in Joy & Remembrance

Historic Bon Odori Multimedia Exhibit On View at NJAHS Japantown Peace Gallery as Part of Commemorative Cultural Arts Series

July 1 – Sept. 30, 2024

“American Bon Odori: Dancing in Joy & Remembrance”

NJAHS Japantown Peace Gallery, 1684 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Curated by Dr. Wynn Kiyama and Jane Suiei Naito
Presented by the American Bon Consortium in partnership with the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS)

Vibrant, colorful, and joyous—Obon dancing (Bon odori) is a kaleidoscope of movement and rhythm, deeply rooted in Japanese Buddhist traditions. In the 1930s, Reverend Yoshio Iwanaga introduced Bon odori to Buddhist communities up and down the American West Coast. Since that time, Bon odori has remained an important Japanese American tradition, through the devastation of World War II concentration camps, the difficult postwar years, and into the 21st century.

As the Buddhist Churches of America marks its 125th anniversary, “American Bon Odori: Dancing in Joy and Remembrance,” celebrates the legacy of Rev. Yoshio Iwanaga, Obon dance teachers past and present, and all who have entered the dance circle.

Drawing upon archival photos, rare films, and artifacts, “American Bon Odori” chronicles the history and significance of Obon dancing (“Bon odori”) in the continental United States, from the 1930s and the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, through the postwar era and into the 21st century. Principal curator, Dr. Wynn Kiyama, has written extensively on Bon odori for Discover Nikkei, Wheel of Dharma, and Portland State University’s Digital Archive. Assistant curator, Jane Suiei Naito, is a member of the BCA Archive Committee and a Sogetsu Ikebana instructor.

The exhibit will also feature 3 special workshops on July 6, August 3, and September 7 in the Peace Gallery. Further details below.

Gallery hours: Monday to Friday, and first Saturdays of the month: 12 Noon to 5 pm

Additional gallery days: Sunday, September 1, and Monday, September 2 (Labor Day), from 12 Noon to 5 pm.

Group Tours: Click here to arrange a group tour for all ages or call (415) 921-5007.

Additional Programming

Saturday, July 6th, 1 – 2 PM
Uchiwa Fan Making Workshop
Hosted by Jane Suiei Naito
NJAHS Japantown Peace Gallery, 1684 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Saturday, August 3rd, 1 – 2 PM
Tenugui Towel Making Workshop
Hosted by Reiko Iwanaga (Hanayagi Reimichi)
NJAHS Japantown Peace Gallery, 1684 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Saturday, September 7th, 1 – 2 PM
“The Magic of Dancing Obon” Dance and Talk
Featuring Bon dance creator, activist, and cultural icon, Nobukuo Miyamoto, in conversation with Dr. Wynn Kiyama
NJAHS Japantown Peace Gallery, 1684 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Register for workshops here: https://forms.gle/tQBuM2QS2bp1wJxq7

Photograph by Isao Isago Tanaka

Nobuko Miyamoto, Bon dance maker, arts icon, activist, and subject of a new documentary, “A Song in Movement,” will teach her BCA-commissioned work, “Kangie” (Gathering of Joy).

Bonbu Stories, a new Asian American arts collaborative group whose members include Emily (Yoshihara) Imazumi, Miharu Okamura, Sydney Shiroyama, Miko Shudo, Kendall Tani, and Vicky Zhang, will share “Lantern Song,” also commissioned by the BCA Music Committee.

PJ Hirabayashi of TaikoPeace will lead the Bon dance circle in “Ei Ja Nai Ka,” a contemporary favorite performed with San Jose Taiko. Ensohza Japanese Folk Ensemble will perform traditional Bon dance music.

All events are free and open to the public. See details at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
https://ybgfestival.org/event/american-bon-dancing-2024/

Funding made possible by The Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and San Francisco Japantown Foundation. For Exhibit and Workshop details, visit https://www.njahs.org/one-day-events/ or call (415) 921-5007. For the Dance event, visit https://ybgfestival.org/event/american-bon-dancing-2024/ or call (415) 543-1718.