Kadena Air Base

Kadena Town Eisa Festival

A chondara clown waves to audience members during a Kadena Town Eisa Festival in Kadena Cho, Okinawa, Aug. 29, 2015. The chondara’s primary role during an Eisa celebration is to entertain the crowd and generate excitement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)

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Okinawan families celebrate Obon

An Okinawan family gives thanks for their health and prays for their safety and happiness in front of a butsudan before sending ancestral spirits back to the other world at Yomitan village, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 28, 2015. Okinawan families believe that during this three-day holiday deceased ancestors are allowed back from the spirit world to visit the homes of their families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Naoto Anazawa)

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Kadena Town Eisa Festival

Taiko drummers perform at a Kadena Town Eisa Festival in Kadena Cho, Japan, Aug. 29, 2015. Taiko drums have been used in Japanese religious ceremonies and celebrations for more than 2000 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)

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Okinawan families celebrate Obon

Fourth generation children pray to their ancestors to show them appreciation for protecting them in front of a butsudan at Yomitan village, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 28, 2015. The last day is the most important during Obon. Families will report a year of events to ancestors before sending them off to the other world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Naoto Anazawa)

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Kadena Town Eisa Festival

Local community members line the street to watch the performers at a Kadena Town Eisa Festival in Kadena Cho, Japan, Aug. 29, 2015. Eisa festivals are held after Obon, a three-day Okinawan holiday which celebrates life and welcomes the spirits of ancestors home for a family reunion. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)

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Okinawan families celebrate Obon

Sousei Yamakawa, owner of the house, burns uchikabi, money of the other world, during the last day of Obon in Yomitan village, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 28, 2015. During Obon, a lot of businesses are closed, and many people travel to be with their relatives. (U.S. Air Force photo by Naoto Anazawa)

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Kadena Town Eisa Festival

A chondara clown greets and entertains the crowd at a Kadena Town Eisa Festival in Kadena Cho, Japan, Aug. 29, 2015. Eisa festivals are held after Obon, a three-day Okinawan holiday which celebrates life and welcomes the spirits of ancestors home for a family reunion. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)

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Okinawan families celebrate Obon

Incenses are erected in a censer in front of a butsudan as part of the Obon holiday at Yomitan village, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 28, 2015. Ever since Obon was first celebrated approximately 500 years ago, Okinawans have followed tradition and prayed, dined, sang and danced with the spirits of their ancestors during this annual event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Naoto Anazawa)

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Kadena Town Eisa Festival

A taiko drummer performs during a Kadena Town Eisa Festival in Kadena Cho, Okinawa, Aug. 29, 2015. Taiko drums have been used in Japanese religious ceremonies and celebrations for more than 2000 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)

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Okinawan families celebrate Obon

Sousei Yamakawa, owner of the house, prays at the family's butsudan before burning uchikabi, money of the other world, in Yomitan village, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 28, 2015. Obon is an ancestral memorial event where it is a tradition for descendants and family members to spend time together while the spirits of their ancestors come back to visit their family's home. (U.S. Air Force photo by Naoto Anazawa)

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Okinawan families celebrate Obon

Sousei Yamakawa, owner of the house, burns uchikabi, money of the other world, while surrounded by relatives in Yomitan village, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 28, 2015. Okinawans invite their ancestral spirits to visit the family's Buddhist altar during this traditional period. (U.S. Air Force photo by Naoto Anazawa)

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Kadena Town Eisa Festival

Local community members line the street to watch the performers at a Kadena Town Eisa Festival in Kadena Cho, Japan, Aug. 29, 2015. Eisa festivals are held after Obon, a three-day Okinawan holiday which celebrates life and welcomes the spirits of ancestors home for a family reunion. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)

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Okinawans come together as ancestors return to spirit world

Published Aug. 31, 2015