The Obon dance is a traditional Japanese dance. People have the honour of their ancestors. The Obon festival takes place in mid-August in many regions of Japan and in mid-July in other regions. There are many forms in different regions. The most typical form is circle dance. People make a circle around a yagura, a high wooden stage; some dancers move clockwise, and some counter-clockwise. This is one of the most important traditions. A lot of people come back to reunite with their families during the Obon festival.
 

The OBON dance is a traditional Japanese dance performed during the OBON festival. OBON festival is usually held in the 7th and 8th lunar month. This festival has Buddhist origin, to remember parents and ancestors, almost like Vu Lan festival in Vietnam. The story of this festival is similar to the story of Vu Lan's filial piety ceremony. The typical activities of the festival such as Bon Odori dance, releasing paper boats, rituals to welcome souls to the underworld, lighting fires... are all fully and thoughtfully performed by the people. These rituals, handed down through generations, are indispensable activities in the Obon festival. The style of dancing Bon Odori in a circle around a wooden floor is called a traditional dance. This wooden floor is called the Yakuza, and this is where singers and dancers perform on Obon night. With this type of tradition, people will dance and sing together to the joyful music of drums, trumpets and shamisen performed live. If you have a chance, go to Japan and attend the Obon festival and try an obon dance, it's so intersting.