OREGON BUDDHIST TEMPLE

OUTDOORS

Obukan Judo Demonstrations (2:30pm)

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​Join us on our journey to 100!

Obukan Judo is a 97 year old Judo Dojo in Portland, Oregon. We teach traditional Kodokan Judo.  Dojo name "Obukan" :  the "O" refers to Oregon; Oregon was called "O-shu" or O-state by Japanese immigrants. "Bu" means martial training. "Kan" means building or training hall. Dr.Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, visited Oregon while touring the United States after the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles.The Portland Judo Club hosted a shiai (tournament) in his honor. At a meeting afterwards Kano shihan officially changes the name of Portland Judo Club to Obukan Judo Dojo.

https://obukanjudo.org

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Portland Taiko   (3:30pm / 4:30pm / 5:30pm)

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Portland Taiko blends the tradition of Japanese taiko drumming with a sense of Asian American identity, creativity, and empowerment. Formed in 1994 by Ann Ishimaru, Zachary Semke, and Japanese American community activists, Portland Taiko has headlined at arts festivals and concert halls, released three CDs, and has performed at hundreds of community events and school assemblies. To date, Portland Taiko has reached over 1 million audience members at over 1500 performances at theaters, schools, community events and festivals.  For information about joining a class, see https://portlandtaiko.org/

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Tsubaki Buyo DoukouKai (5:15pm) Traditional Japanese Dance

Tsubaki means “camelia flower”, and Buyo Doko Kai (pronounced, “boo-yo doe-ko-kai”) is “dance club” in Japanese.  Many of us are former students of the dedicated and generous Japanese dance teacher, Madame Sahomi Tachibana. We are pleased to be able to share these traditional and folk pieces with you.

Tsubaki Buyo Doukoukai  (Yoshiko Kamata, Ritsuko Fujiwara, Kimi Kimura, Ann Shintani and El Kiyoko Nakayama)

​Hanagasa Ondo – or “flower straw-hat song” is popular folk song from Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. It is often performed in the summer, along streets and often with many dancers, sometimes hundreds.

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Bon Odori, Japanese Folk Dancing  (7-9pm)

Everyone is invited to join in the celebration of Japanese and Japanese American folk dancing. At Oregon Buddhist Temple, we emphasize two things about Bon Odori: 1. This is not performance dancing, it is dancing for joy. The idea is to lose your ego and enjoy the experience.  2. This dancing is about community, and everyone is welcome. It is for everyone to just be together and enjoy.

For this year's dance list and videos, see:

https://www.oregonbuddhisttemple.com/obon-dance

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CHILDREN’S CORNER

(Outdoor / Garden/ 2 - 5:30pm)

Enjoy creative games and crafts for children of all ages.  Games include Dharma Ducklings, 3 Poisons,  Festival Ball Drop, and Maneki Neko.  There will be information table on Oregon Buddhist Temple Dharma School with free coloring and activity papers! There will be one time charge for the games.

The games will be closing at 5:30, and there will be a  Live Puppet Show then - based on a Japanese comical folktale by our amazing Children's Corner Staffs!!! Come and enjoy the show!!

 

TEEN SCENE

(Outdoor / Garden/ 2 - 6pm)

Interactive exhibits highlighting both Japanese culture and international Buddhism.  This year,  OBT youths will create (and at the end of the day erase) ​a Tibetan style sand mandala.  In addition, we will have origami and chopstick tutorials as well as temporary wrist/arm tattoos (age 12+).

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Rose City Retro

(Outdoor / Garden / 2- 6pm)

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Rose City Retro is your source for high quality anime, Pokemon, and pop culture items. We offer handpicked treasures from Japan, too.

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INDOORS  (Upstairs / In Hondo)

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Chanting of Hanjusan

     (Video by Rev. Tadao Koyama) (1:30pm)

The full title of Hanjusan, by Master Shantao (Zendo) is "Ekangyotomyo Hanjuzanmai Gyodo Ojosan" - "Hymns on the samadhi of All Buddhas Presence".  Please enjoy listening to Rev.Koyama's chanting of Hanjusan.

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Chanting of Shuso Sango Saho

     (Video by Rev. Yuki Sugahara)  (2pm)

Shuso Sango Saho was established for the 750th Memorial Service of our founder Shinran Shonin. It is a beautiful musical chanting that combines Choraimon, Shoshinge, Wasan, Nembutsu, and Ondokusan.  In this video, Rev. Yuki Sugahara and Rev. Henry Adams chant Shuso Sango Saho at OBT's Special Service.

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"Lantern Song"

The BCA Music Bon Odori Taiko Subcommittee is excited to introduce a new Bon Odori commission for 2024. For the upcoming 125th anniversary of the Buddhist Churches of America, the committee wanted to promote young Buddhist voices to commemorate this momentous occasion. 

     Bonbu Stories is an Asian American Arts collaborative dedicated to using music as a medium for raw storytelling and building connections. Made up of six amazing young musicians, this group was tasked with representing their interpretation of a modern Bon Odori — to express the sentiments of their generation’s definition of Obon. Their process involved conversations and mentorship from community leaders such as Rev. Masao Kodani and Nobuko Miyamoto. The result is a beautiful new Bon Odori piece called “Lantern Song.”

     The lyrics of “Lantern Song” depict an intergenerational conversation between a living person and their departed loved ones. The piece does not shy away from the realities and mixed emotions that can be so prevalent around Obon such as loss, legacy, remembrance, and celebration. They encourage us to dance, sing, and cherish the memories under the lanterns. 

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49 Days, a Book Talk by Agnes Lee (4pm)

 

 

 

 

Agnes Lee grew up in the Bay Area and is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Art Center College of Design. She is a former Chronicle Books fellow and was an Art Director at the The New York Times for several years where she began illustrating the Metropolitan Diary column. She now lives in Portland, OR, with her partner and cat. In addition to art, she loves the outdoors and playing ultimate frisbee. Agnes can be found at ahjlee.com. 49 Days is her debut.

 

 

 

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SAGA Goryu Ikebana (5pm)

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Messages in a Vase: Exploring Saga Goryu Ikebana

Saga Goryu Ikebana, a spiritual art form rooted in Shingon Buddhism and endorsed by Emperor Saga, transcends traditional floral arrangement to offer a path to enlightenment through daily acts of compassion and honor. This philosophy aligns closely with Jodo Shinshu, which emphasizes relying on Amida Buddha's vow for salvation and expressing inner peace through the Nembutsu ("Namu Amida Butsu"). Both practices use non-verbal means to convey profound meanings and foster a deep connection between the practitioner and observer, where floral symbols in Ikebana and the Nembutsu in Jodo Shinshu serve as mediums for spiritual communication and reflection.

In a time where effective communication is crucial, the integration of Saga Goryu Ikebana and Jodo Shinshu principles offers a unique approach to mindfulness and artful expression. Ikebana uses plant materials like the Three Friends of Winter (pine, bamboo, and plum) or the cherry blossom to articulate ideas, much like how Jodo Shinshu’s simple, heartfelt practices convey spiritual devotion. Embracing these practices encourages a balanced, harmonious future, allowing us to refine our communication and contribute positively to our shared world. Let us embark on this journey together, appreciating the depth of meaning behind every floral arrangement and every recitation of the Nembutsu.

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Merchandise (Indoor/ Downstairs)

     Omiyage Shop: Fill your basket with a treasure trove of Asian novelties!

     Kimono Store: Choose a kimono, yukata or happi to Dance for Joy!

     Religious Items: Butsudans, nenjus and other Buddhist items.

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INDOORS    ANNEX   (Main Room)

Japanese Style Postcard Making, Etegami Workshop​ (3-7pm)

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Etegami is Japanese style postcard making.

It is easy and fun free style art with your personal message in a postcard size. At Obonfest, you will be making your own card by using watercolor, pen and pencil, stamps, sumi ink, and/or brush at temple annex.($5 material fee per card and instruction is provided at the event) 

Join us to create your own greeting card, it is perfect time to create 書中お見舞いshochuomimai cards.    https://www.stonelakeschool.com/

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