Thinking about making a monetary donation towards
SLOBC’s 100 Anniversary Celebration? You can do so
by either scanning the QR Code and going to the
Donate Page on the church’s website
(slobuddhistchurch.org), or mailing a check to: SLOBC,
P.O. Box 1755, Pismo Beach, CA, 93448.
Your donation is greatly appreciated.

For most of the churches and temples in the Buddhist Churches of America, Obon is the most celebrated event of the year. Besides selling delicious food such as BBQ teriyaki chicken, sushi, tempura and udon, crafts, martial arts demonstrations and other forms of entertainment make for a major undertaking. The most important “ingredient” needed however, is the volunteers: people to setup the booths, cook and pack the food items, coordinate the parking, and of course, “tearing down” and putting everything away.

However, Obon is also a time when families, friends, and complete strangers gather at the temple to pitch in with all the work that needs to be done. It’s meeting people you haven’t seen since the last Obon and catching up with what has happened during that time. So despite the physical work that’s involved, it’s an enjoyable time for many and the day goes by quickly.

Culmination of the Obon Festival is the Odori, traditional Japanese folk dancing around a raised platform (yagura). Women, men and children dressed in colorful kimonos, yukatas and hapi coats along with chochin (sometimes lighted) strung above the dance area make for a festive sight. The dances are accompanied by recorded or live songs and sometimes with the beat of a taiko drum. Of course, the last dance is usually Tanko Bushi.

SLOBC’s Obon goes back to the 1930s which was held at he first temple grounds. Cars would park around the tennis court and shine their headlights on the beautifully dressed dancers. The Obon Festival was first opened to the public in 1957 when it was held at the Veterans’ Memorial Building in San Luis Obispo where 1,000 people enjoyed Bon Odori and teriyaki chicken dinner. Obon was held on the first Saturday in August and continues to this day.

In 2014, the Obon Festival was moved to St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Arroyo Grande, still holding to the same food fare and Odori being held outdoors. When Covid-19 struck, the festival was put on hold for two years but reestablished at the temple grounds in 2022. The event was downsized both in types of food being offered and open to members and friends of the temple only. Due to its success, the event was opened to the public the following year. Changes included serving teriyaki chicken bowls instead of chicken dinners, vegetable curry, spam musubi and alcohol-free.