Until Next Year

Sending off fire of Obon

On the final day of Obon, the 16th, just like the welcoming fire at the beginning of Obon, we burn ogara (dried hemp stalks) for the sending-off fire.

Ogara is the hollow core of a hemp stalk, so it burns very easily and produces a gentle flame and smoke. Hemp has long been regarded as a sacred plant in Japan, so using it for these fires is said to help guide our ancestors' spirits.

At our home, we sometimes use a small piece of newspaper to help the ogara catch fire. It's a tiny family tradition that has become part of our Obon every year.

As the gentle flame fades into the summer night, I quietly whisper,"Until next year."

I hope that, through my handmade creations and these small stories from Japan, I can share a little of the beauty and warmth of our traditions with you.

Nat