The third weekend of every July, the Mountain View Buddhist Temple holds their annual Obon. This year I helped out in one of the game
booths and participated in the Bon Odori on Sunday evening. In order to prepare for the dancing, I practiced every Tuesday and Thursday
night prior to Obon so I kinda knew the dance steps. While I danced I saw many of my friends all dressed up in kimonos, yukatas, and happi
coats. I had a great time!
Helping out at the Duck Pond Game Booth.
Getting my yukata put on.
This very kind lady helped me.
This is Aunty Judy and my good friend Emi.
Here we go!
Cher, Brianna, Hayley, and Mrs. Nishimoto.
Cammi, Emi, and Brianna.
Aunty Judy and her sister Kelly.
Coach Wayne and some lady (with Aaron, Aunty Juds' bro-in-law).
Look who showed up!
Brianna and me.
Obon 2011
This year at Obon I helped out at one of the game booths, worked at the drink booth for the Girl Scouts, played bingo, and hung out with
friends. I love Obon. We spend the entire day there helping, eating, and having fun.
This summer at Obon I helped out at the shooting gallery, worked at the drink booth for the Girl Scouts, ate, played games and hung out with friends.
My brothers really wanted swords as prizes from the shooting gallery. The problem was they needed to hit the bullseye. Neither of them was having
much luck so I tried to help them. In the end, I was able to score a total of 3 swords so we each got one.
Brianna, Michelle, and Cayla.
Odori.
My Obon display from Nakayoshi Gakko.
Obon 2013
This was another great Obon! I worked the drink booth, shooting gallery, and goldfish booth! I also got in some bingo and thought I
almost won the grand prize. I needed I-twenty. The caller called I-twenty... two and somebody else won. Oh well, there's always next year!
Obon this year was super busy. Since I'm in the YBA now, I helped out at the spam musubi booth. Not only did I sell, but I also helped make
them! Besides that, I worked the drink booth and the goldfish booth with good friend Cher. It was busy but I always have a lot of fun. Next year will be even better!
This year, my participation in Obon was over the top! I helped in the spam musubi booth for the YBA. I also helped my friend Cher
in the goldfish booth. The biggest thing though was on Sunday evening when I had to do odori on the yagura in front of everybody!
Fortunately, I knew enough of the dances so I didn't look too clumsy. In the end, it was a great time as always!
As incoming YBA President, Jordyn was honored with the opportunity to dance on the yagura on Sunday. Before that, she helped at the YBA Spam
Musubi booth and hung out with friends.
Michelle, Cayla, and Hayley.
Sanjo Kanyoshi, Devon, and Lindsey ready on the yagura.
This was Jordyn's last Obon as a high school student. She's been very fortunate to have had the honor to dance on the yagura 3 years in a row.
Next summer when she returns she'll have to dance around the yagura like everyone else. Still, she had a wonderful time this summer. She helped
with spam musubi and got to spend her final summer before college just "hanging" with all her friends.
Da gang's all here!
Incoming YBA Pres. Maddie M with outgoing Pres. Jordyn.
This might be Jordyn's first smile ever on the yagura.
Jordyn wasn't supposed to be home for Obon this summer. She remained in Los Angeles to work over the summer on campus. Back in June, she told
me my Fathers Day gift was going to be late. I didn't think twice since I was busy as the Obon Co-Chair this year and never even gave it a second thought.
Little did I know that her gift to me was a surprise visit the first morning of Obon. I was overjoyed and was so happy she could be here.
Well, Jordyn is working down in SoCal again this summer. This time she's working at Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach learning about AI and Machine
Learning. In July, however, she was back 3 times. The first was for the July 4th holiday weekend. The second was when Cal Poly Pomona's Touzan Taiko performed at the San Jose Obon. The third and final time
was when Mountain View had its Obon.
Working the YBA Hot Dog booth!
Serena, Lauren, Mrs. Sakuma, me, and Neil.
Jordyn wasn't going to be able to dance on Sunday because of her flight back to LAX. Here she is with Serena Saturday night dancing Maui style.
Jordyn doesn't just attend Obon. She helps out quite a bit as well. For the past two years she's been one of the key people setting up the public address system. She hangs wire all over the grounds
after the booths have gone up and then helps mount the speakers. It takes a few days to get it all done, so she can always be found in the early evenings prior to Obon running around. When Obon began on
Saturday, her friends Gracelyn, Serena, and Eric all drove up to, not only, see Jordyn and attend Obon, but also to help out! They all worked in the Dining Hall! Jordyn worked in the Dining Hall too, but
she also, with the return of Corn Dogs and French Fries, worked in the food booth taking orders. Of course, on Sunday, she danced.
