In Kamiichi Town, Toyama Prefecture, on August 13th, during the summer Obon festival, people gather on the banks of the Kamiichi River near Ichihime Shrine to light lanterns to welcome their ancestors, coinciding with the fireworks display at the Kamiichi Festival. Last year, my whole family participated in this event for my grandmother's first Obon since she passed away.
As dusk falls and it's past 7 PM, the usually quiet streets are filled with people, and festival stalls line the streets, creating a lively atmosphere.
The "Oshōraiko" (spirit tower burning) event is taking place on the banks of the Kamiichi River, with more than a dozen towers called "niotombo," made of bamboo and branches and reaching heights of over 10 meters, being erected and burning fiercely, scorching the night sky one after another.Along the riverbank, people call out "shōrai" to the spirits of their ancestors and pass around burning straw sticks called "shōrai" (spirits), while the chanting of sutras by the head priest of Ganmokuzan Tateyama-ji Temple resonates loudly, creating a solemn atmosphere and a fantastical scene of welcoming fires during the Obon festival.
I believe "Oshōraiko" was originally a custom expressed as "Shōraikon" (inviting spirit).On the evening of the Obon festival, fires are lit as a marker to guide the spirits of ancestors returning home, so that they do not get lost.
"Shōrai shōrai bon shōrai,Grandpa, come too! Grandma, come too!
By chanting this phrase and spinning a burning straw stick representing a "spirit" (a bundle of reeds with newspaper or wood shavings stuffed into the end, which can be found in supermarkets during certain seasons), it is believed that the light will guide your ancestors to visit.
The fireworks display begins at 8 PM, after the "shōraiko" (a type of celebratory music) has settled down. With 2,300 fireworks launched, including large starbursts and other colorful displays, the night sky is lit up one after another, eliciting applause and cheers from the assembled crowd, creating a lively summer festival atmosphere!
