Funekko Nagashi - Japanese Boat-Burning Festival

http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/funekko-nagashi-matsuri-japanese-...
Obon is the time for honoring the dead and praying to the ancestral spirits. Traditionally it is believed that the souls of the departed return to the world of the living and later return at the end of Obon.

Many communities put on dances known as Bon Odori and put lanterns with the names of the departed in waterways. These lanterns represent the souls returning to the underworld, the other world.

The city of Morioka in northern Japan sends the spirits off in style by burning makeshift boats stuffed with fireworks.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• obon
• Morioka
• Iwate
• festival
• fireworks
• funekkonagashi
• fire
• boats
• culture
• events

[ltlocus]

what do they put on the boat are they like petitions or prayers for the dead or just fireworks and ribbons? By the way what kind of camera do you use? Its nice.

[RoninDave]

they put that stuff on and also pictures on some of them as you can see at 8:00.

At 0:45 you can see a makeshift grave stone.

I shot this with a Canon IVIS HV30. The mic though is a little sensitive thus all the damn wind sound.

[Gimmeabreakman]

EXCELLENT QUALITY!

[bluesheeft]

love the lanterns. Want to see that for myself some day. I suppose if it only happens at obon.. I just missed it. doh.

[iluvwine13]

You captured some great footage. The obon festival is a real cool one. Thanks for sharing.

[watcher8o]

Vikings! Not quite...

[6663000]

Very cool video. That looks like a fun festival :P