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S3E6: In the Dust Behind Barbed Wire — The Rhythm of FandangObon
Description
Welcome back to Japanese America! In our annual July Obon Special, we explore how the traditional summer dance circle has expanded into a massive, multi-ethnic movement of resistance, collective healing, and cross-cultural solidarity.
In this episode, we feature powerful clips from the new documentary Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement—a brilliant co-production between the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and PBS. We trace the incredible journey of how an early 1980s request for the first English-language Obon song evolved into FandangObon: an iconic Los Angeles festival fusing Japanese Obon, Mexican Fandango, and West African drum traditions.
Along the way, Michelle shares her nostalgic memories of childhood Obon festivals in Japan (complete with a loophole for bad manners), while Koji stands firm on his lifelong stance that "gangsters don't dance"—unless, of course, a childhood crush was involved. We also dive into what our ancestors might think of Koji's legendary Minor League baseball dance moves.
What We Discuss in This Episode:
- The First English Obon Song: How Reverend Masao Kodani of Senshin Buddhist Temple challenged icon Nobuko Miyamoto to bridge a cultural gap in the early 1980s.
- Obon as Resistance: A poignant look at how Japanese Americans kept the Obon tradition alive behind barbed wire in WWII concentration camps, dancing in the camp dust as an act of survival.
- The Birth of FandangObon: The magical moment Nobuko stepped into a Mexican Fandango workshop, recognized the shared community structure of the participatory circle, and fused it with Obon.
- LA Cultural Synthesis: Artists Quetzal Flores and Martha Gonzalez reflect on what it means to find collective healing, beauty, and joy through intergenerational solidarity.
- Cultural Nuances & "The Rules": Michelle and Koji discuss the differences between Japanese and American street manners, the multi-layered nature of Japanese spirituality (Shinto shrines, Christmas, and Buddhist funerals), and sharing cross-cultural clothing like yukata and happi coats with respect.
- The Ultimate Dance-Off: Michelle challenges Koji's rhythm, prompting Koji to defend his skills using Minor League classics like "The Chicken Dance," "The Bus Driver," and "The Q-Tip".
Featured Voices & Film Credits
- Nobuko Miyamoto: Legendary activist, musician, dancer, and founder of Great Leap.
- Reverend Masao Kodani: Former head minister of Senshin Buddhist Temple.
- Quetzal Flores & Martha Gonzalez: Grammy Award-winning musicians and pillars of the LA Fandango/Son Jarocho movement.
- The Film: Audio clips featured in this episode are pulled directly from Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement, a co-production by the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and PBS.
Links & Resources Mentioned
- Watch the Movie: Stream the full documentary right now on PBS: Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement on PBS. (https://www.pbs.org/video/nobuko-miyamoto-a-song-in-movement-gjvy7f/)
- Learn More: Visit the Japanese American National Museum for exhibitions, history, and community resources. (www.janm.org)
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Enjoyed the episode? Grab your uchiwa fan, head to your local temple, and step into the circle this summer! Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe!