While the Denver Japanese community celebrates its 33rd annual Cherry Blossom Festival, one festival highlight traces back more than 1,300 years.
“It’s called Bon Odori (dance),” festival co-chair Joni Sakaguchi said. “Dancing is done in remembrance and honor of all those who have passed on before us. It is in appreciation of all that they have done for us and to recognize the continuation of their deeds upon our lives.”
She said Bon Odori is part of a celebration called Obon.
“The Obon season involves the spirit of offering to someone and also have it received and accepted with the warmness of the heart.”
Traditionally, the observance comes in July and August. But for several years, the Japanese community has combined Bon Odori with the June festival, which takes place this weekend at Sakura Square on Lawrence Street between 19th and 20th streets.
“The dancing is always done at night,” Sakaguchi said. “Dancers wearing kimono, yukata (summer cotton kimono) or happi coat (short, loose-fitting Japanese cotton coat) dance in a large circle around a center pole strung with lanterns. A variety of accessories including round and folding fans, Japanese hand towels and kachi-kachi (castanets) are used in different dances.”
The festival takes place from 7:30 p.m. to about 9:30 p.m. Saturday. All festivalgoers are invited to dance.
Spokeswoman Michelle Asakawa said the festival added things for children this year, including a traditional omikuchi, or wishing, tree.
“In Japan a lot of the shrines have these little trees or these posts where people tie wishes,” she said. “We have some preprinted fortunes or wishes. We are trying to do more things for the children, so we’re encouraging the children to tie their wishes to a tree.”
Also featured are large cutouts of a good fortune cat and a monk named Daruma. Kids can get their pictures taken as the face of the cat and the monk.
“Daruma was a monk who mediated for so long he lost the use of his arms and his legs, so he is round,” she said.
Like Daruma, the good luck cat is a traditional Japanese symbol and figurine.
Taiko performers are always a popular part of the event. This year three drumming groups will entertain.
More than 30 vendors will be on hand offering everything from Buddhist nenju, or prayer beads, to jade carvings to vintage kimonos to origami clocks and earrings.
“We tend to refer to it has an Asian marketplace, because we do have a few vendors who sell in addition to purely Japanese things some things that would be considered more Chinese,” Asakawa said. “We have one vendor who works with artisans out of Thailand and sells carved wood that is out of renewable-source wood.”
There also will be a bonsai exhibit and an ikebana (Japanese floral arrangements) exhibit and demonstrations.
Japanese food also will be available.
“Pretty much if it is Japanese, we try to have it,” Asakawa said.
Staff writer Ed Will can be reached at 303-820-1694 or ewill@denverpost.com.
