2021 NYC Unity Obon Event: Taiko, Obon Dances, Origami, SpeakersNEW

NYC Unity Obon Event, hosted by NYC based community members and organizations.
Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. Come together to celebrate those who came before us with traditional dances and more!

Event Date (Please Verify Date)
Thursday, September 23, 2021

Event Time
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Please join us on Thursday, August 12th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm EDT for a free and outdoors Unity Obon event hosted by NYC based community members and organizations! At the Unity Obon we hope to create a space for joy and care.

SAFETY: We ask that all attendees wear masks and practice social distancing. We will have masks and hand sanitizer available. We are closely following city updates about the delta variant and any mandates to ensure this outdoor event is safe. Please check back here for any changes or updates in scheduling

After over a year of physically isolating ourselves to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the rise of violence against Asian Americans we are honored to come together during a time of great need. As we gather, we will remind ourselves of the strength and resilience of Japanese Americans and our communities.

We gather in unity with the intent to build bridges for conversation and relationship towards solidarity between communities in ending all forms of violence.

This event follows an already vibrant movement of community building and care through Project Bento. We are so excited to celebrate our continued support of each other particularly in the areas of safety and mutual aid, and our ancestors.

Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. Our extended community will come together to celebrate those who came before us with traditional dances and more!

The program will include: 
* Soh Daiko, Taiko Drumming Group
* Obon dancing, Merle Mieko Okada on taiko
* Origami folding, led by Origami Therapy Association (OTA)
* Reverend Earl Ikeda, Resident minister of the NY Buddhist Church
* Taiyo Na, musician, writer and educator
* Becca Asaki, community organizer
* Saki Mori (MC), JACL
* Tomie Arai, public artist, printmaker and community activist
* Julie Azuma, Community Leader, JAA, JAJA and CAPA

We will also be giving away donated bottles of tea from Ito En-North America and water from TIC Group, Mr. Bon Yagi. Chairs and tables will be available to attendees.

Let’s come together in dance and music to celebrate our New York community and strength, and those who have paved the way for us! We look forward to holding this event and coming together in-person soon.

LOCATION: Fourth Arts Block, East 4th St., btw. Bowery & 2nd Ave.

The Unity Obon was organized by an ad hoc committee including: Emily Akpan, Tomie Arai, Becca Asaki, Julie Azuma, Jill Cornell, April Gore, Yukiko Hanawa, George Hirose, Natsuko Ikegami, Kim Ima, Mike Ishii, Saki Mori, Linda Morris, Kenji Nakano, Stann Nakazono, Susan Onuma, Suki Ports, Lani Sanjek, Tricia Shimamura, Lauren Sumida, Yuriko Yamaki, Tsuya Hohri Yee, and Teddy Yoshikami.

Community Based Organization participants include: Japanese Americans community members and Japanese in America (JAJA), Japanese American Association of New York (JAA), Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)-NY Chapter, Origami Therapy Association (OTA), Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA), New York Japanese American Lions Club, and New York Day of Remembrance Committee (NYDOR).

A special thanks to FAB NYC

East 4th Street OPEN STREET program is managed by FABnyc, with support provided by all arts organizations on the block. FABnyc is programming arts events all summer on local streets! Check the schedule out here.