10,000 floating lanterns mark the end of the festival of the dead
Miyazu - August 16, 2007
1. Close up of butterfly on tree
2. Pan of graveyard
3. Close up of people praying at graves
4. Wide of bay
5. Wide of men carrying Serei Sen (Spirit Boat.)
6. Various of Serei Sen (Spirit Boat.)
7. Various of people praying at Serei Sen (Spirit Boat.) outside of home of someone who has died within the last 12 months
8. SOUNDBITE :(Japanese) Kizaki Yoshikazu, Eldest son of Kazaki Mitsu, who died last year
On the first Obon festival after the death of a relative, it has been a local tradition to send them back to them off in boats called Seirei Sen.
9. Various of decorations on Kizaki Mitsu's Serei Sen
10. Close up still photo of Kizaki Mitsu (died aged 86)
11. SOUNDBITE :(Japanese) Kizaki Yoshikazu, Eldest son of Kazaki Mitsu, who died last year
She died on September 28th last year.
12. Various of Kizaki Mitsu's Seirei Sen (with things that the deceased relative liked. Kizaki Mitsu loved sweet things like pears, and Japanese sweets made from Azuki beans and chocolate fingers. The Boat is crewed with dolls that steer the boat on it's way.)
13. Men lift Kizaki Mitsu's Seirei Sen and walk off
14. Various of men carrying Kizaki Mitsu's Seirei Sen
15. SOUNDBITE :(Japanese) Rev Hijikata Abbot of Dai Choji Temple.
The feudal lord that originated the custom of releasing lanterns and spirit boats onto the sea during the Obon festival was originally from Hamamatsu. (Hamamtsu is a city located between Nagoya and Tokyo and he moved to the Tango peninsular around 250 years ago. ) As Obon is a time when the spirits of ancestors return to their homeland the idea is that they could return to their homeland (Hamamatsu) via the sea on route to Gokkuraku Jodo
16. Various of Monks writing prayers and wishes of onto the paper lanterns for people
17. Various of men making lanterns
18. Wide of Senrei Sen boat on harbour
19. Wide of Senrei Sen being launched onto water
20. Various of Senrei Sen on water
21. SOUNDBITE :(Japanese) Kizaki Yoshikazu, Eldest son of Kazaki Mitsu, who died last year
That's the most difficult question to answer. I think one way of looking at it is that it is almost a year since my mother died. On the one hand it is a time for memories and remembrance, perhaps on the other it is time to draw a line and move on. I think that is what I want from the first Obon after her death. I want the release of the lanterns and Senrei Sen to mark a time to draw a line and move on.
22. Various of Senrei Sen ablaze on water
23. Various of people putting lanterns on the water
24. Wide of view from hill side
25. Various of Senrei Sen ablaze on water
26. Various of lanterns on the water
LEAD IN :
During the month of August, the Japanese mark the festival of 'Obon' , the Buddhist festival of the dead.
It is a time when family graves are visited, memorial services are performed and the spirits of ancestors are welcomed back into the world.
The festival reaches a climax on August 16th, when spirits of departed ancestors leave the living world to which they have briefly returned and journey back to the realm of the dead.
The night of August 16th is marked by festivals all over the country as the living bid farewell to ancestral spirits and send them on their way.
STORYLINE:
August is the month of the dead in Japan..... prayers are said and graves are tended during the festival of 'Obon'.
Across the country lanterns are lit and hung on the doors of homes.
Traditions vary from region to region, and in the city of Kyoto the festival ends with the mountains which surround the city set ablaze with symbolic characters.
The coastal town of Miyazu on the Tango peninsular in Kyoto prefecture celebrates the festival in a unique way.
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