Festivals

SACRAMENTO — The 62nd annual Japanese Food and Cultural Bazaar will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9-10, starting at 12 noon both days, at Sacramento Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside Blvd. (at X Street).

The two-day event will feature traditional Japanese food, Japanese cultural performances, exhibits of Japanese arts, and games with prizes for all ages.

There is no charge for admission. Free parking is available at W and 7th streets, with free shuttle bus service.

BERKELEY — Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple will hold its annual bazaar on Saturday, July 26, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 27, from 12 to 6 p.m.

The event will feature Japanese food, children’s games and homemade crafts. Admission is free.

The temple is located at 1524 Oregon St. (at Sacramento). For more information, call (510) 843-6933.

OAKLAND — Buddhist Church of Oakland invites everyone to its Obon Festival of Joy and Food Bazaar on Saturday, Aug. 2, starting at 3 p.m.

The festivities will include a display by the Ohara School of Ikebana, teriyaki steak and teriyaki chicken dinners, a tea ceremony demonstration, koto and taiko performances, and music by San Jose’s Chidori Band.

The Bon Odori will start at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to participate in the dancing.

SAN JOSE — San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin will hold its annual Obon Festival on Saturday and Sunday, July 12-13.

The church is located at 640 N. 5th St. between Jackson and Taylor streets, four blocks east of the Japantown/Ayer light rail station.

On both days, the food booths will open at 12 p.m., and the Buddhist bookstore and game booths at 1 p.m.

MARYSVILLE — Marysville Buddhist Church, located at 125 B St., will hold its Obon Festival on Saturday, July 19.

Teriyaki chicken box lunches will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 3 p.m. The cost is $9.

Obon, Hatsubon and July-August Shotsuki (memorial) services will be held at 3:30 p.m. The guest speaker will be Rev. Shousen K. Hanayama of Watsonville Buddhist Temple.

The dining room will open at 5 p.m.

The Obon Odori begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by a performance by Marysville YBA Taiko at 8:30 p.m.

RENO — Reno Howakai will hold its Obon services and Obon Odori on Saturday, July 12, at 1 p.m. at the Knights of Pythias Hall, 980 Nevada St.

Reno Howakai holds services once a month from April to October, except for September, when a food bazaar is held. The supervising minister is Rev. Tesshi Aoyama of Placer Buddhist Church in Penryn.

SACRAMENTO — Having fun and learning about a vital social, cultural and religious institution in the Japanese American community is the focus of a youth Obon workshop on Tuesday, July 22, at 6 p.m. at Buddhist Church of Florin, 7235 Pritchard Rd. (off Florin Road and Highway 99) in Sacramento.

Participants will hear about the importance of Obon Odori and get tips on how to do the dances. Refreshments will be served.

FRESNO — Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple, 1340 Kern St. (at E Street), will hold its annual Obon Festival on Saturday, July 12.

The temple will have an open house, including a Q&A session with the ministers, at 2, 4 and 5:30 p.m. and during the Obon Odori intermission.

Exhibits of bonsai, ikebana and Japanese dolls will open at 3 p.m.

The merchants of San Francisco’s Japantown will be celebrating the Tanabata Festival at the malls adjacent to the Peace Plaza from July 1 until Aug. 31.

Tanabata, meaning “evening of the seventh,” is a summer tradition in Japan where celebrants write wishes or poetry on small pieces of paper and hang them on bamboo plants. This tradition is said to celebrate the tale of two heavenly lovers that can only meet on the evening of the seventh day of the seventh month.

LODI — Buddhist Church of Lodi, located at 23 N. Stockton St., will hold its annual Obon Bazaar on Saturday and Sunday, June 28-29.

Japanese food will be sold both days from 12 noon to 8 p.m.

The schedule of events is as follows.

Saturday, June 28

Lecture on "Buddhist Culture" from 1 to 2 p.m.

Entertainment in JACL Hall from 3 to 5:45 p.m. (koto by Mikami Kai at 3 p.m., tea ceremony by Mikami Kai at 3:30 p.m., minyo by Miyuki Kai at 4 p.m., martial arts demonstration by Pacific Judo at 4:30 p.m., classical dancing by Hanayagi Kai at 5 p.m.).