Obon Season (mid-August) is a major holiday period in Japan, where many Japanese people travel to their hometowns to be with their loved ones and to honour ancestors and loved ones who have passed. It is also a time of major festivities, that delights all senses, with spectacular parades, traditional dancing, drumming, music, art, food, and most importantly families and friends getting together to hang out.

Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Japan has not celebrated its Obon Season. So it was with great delight that the Obon Festivals were back in full force throughout Japan.

This year, it was wonderful to see Rotary Chiba, Japan in the festivities. They were part of the parade as well as having a stall, that must have sold hundreds of “End Polio now” t/shirts as I saw them everywhere. Go Rotary Chiba, Japan!!Start writing here...