Southeast Gakuen Obon Carnival

Obon traditionally is the celebration of one's departed ancestors and is considered a Buddhist tradition. Here in America, a lot of small Japanese schools and Buddhist churches carry on that tradition. I used to attend a Japanese school in Norwalk called Southeast Japanese Community Center. My parents are very involved still and my dad is on the board of directors. Every year I try to make it out there. I have been going for the last 20 some years of my life now and it has changed drastically. I remember as a kid wearing my yukata and dancing the bon-odori around the lantern lit stage in a circle. I loved going to the obon to eat food and run around playing the games. Now days, things have changed a bit. Due to the americanization of Japanese Americans, the obon is a lot more americanized/hawaiaanized. They still serve sushi, chirashi, and udon...but now also serve asian short ribs, sweet and sour pork, and kalua pork. They still have the games like string pull, goldfish toss, and tic tac toe.....no more jingleboard though. I had a blast this year spending time with my parents and also with my surrogate family the Kishiyamas (Dean, Joni, Evan) and my surrogate parents (Chiyo and John Miyahara). I hold them near and dear to my heart and am so lucky that they let me be part of their family events. I started off eating some hawaiian dinner with my parents. They the Kishiyamas/Miyaharas came for dinner. After dinner, I had a blast watching Evan and Joni and her sister Jil and her son Tanner dance the bon-odori. As a lucky auntie, I got to take Evan around to the games and watch him play and win prizes. I can't wait until next year to spend another fun filled tradition of Obon festival!

The Spareribs with fried rice

Sweet and Sour Pork

My favorite date: always a gentleman and always fun

My beautiful SW

Dean and I