A Bon Odori honoring the newly deceased and passed down in Katamata
Katamata Bon Odori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- August 14
- Location
- Katamata District
- Area
- Kumamoto Prefecture・Ubuyama Village(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 10 min · flight time only)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/11/11
A held in Katamata District to honor the newly deceased. On August 14, it is danced at homes observing their first since a family member’s death. In years when there are no newly deceased, it is held in a larger space such as a community center.
About Katamata Bon Odori
Katamata Bon Odori is a Bon Odori held in Katamata District, Ubuyama Village, to honor the newly deceased.
On August 14, it is danced at homes observing their first Obon since a family member’s death. In years when there are no newly deceased, it is held in a larger space such as a community center.
An event passed down in Katamata, associated with the community’s memorial practices.
Festival highlights
One distinctive feature is that the dance is not held at the same venue every year; its location changes depending on whether there are newly deceased.
In years when there are newly deceased, the venue is a home observing its first Obon since a family member’s death; in other years, it is held in a larger space such as a community center.
This shows how Bon Odori is connected with the community’s memorial practices.
A Bon Odori honoring the newly deceased and passed down in Katamata
What to expect
The event includes Bon Odori dances held to honor the newly deceased.
On August 14, the usual practice is to dance at homes observing their first Obon since a family member’s death. In years when there are no newly deceased, it is danced in a larger space such as a community center.
No details are given about the specific dances, their duration, or how members of the public can participate.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Katamata District
Address Katamata District, Ubuyama Village
Dates and season
- Season
August 14
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Kumamoto Prefecture / Ubuyama Village (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Origins and History of Katamata Bon Odori
Katamata Bon Odori is said to have been passed down orally by a woman who came from Tsurusaki in Oita to work as a servant for the Nasu family in Katamata in the late early-modern period.
No details are given about how it changed afterward or whether it was ever interrupted.
The event as it is practiced today is held on August 14 in connection with honoring the newly deceased.
Official information
Katamata Bon Odori is featured in the guide to village-designated cultural properties published by the Ubuyama Village Board of Education.
For inquiries, contact the Board of Education at 0967-25-2214.
Katamata Bon Odori at a Glance
Katamata Bon Odori is a Bon Odori held in Katamata District, Ubuyama Village, to honor the newly deceased.
On August 14, it is danced at homes observing their first Obon since a family member’s death. In years when there are no newly deceased, it is held in a larger space such as a community center.
It is said to have been passed down orally by a woman who came from Tsurusaki in Oita in the late early-modern period, and it continues to convey the community’s memorial practices and traditions today.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
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Article updated: 2026/11/11
