Kyoto mountain burning in midsummer, Daimonji and other mountains (August 16th)

Unknown to me, midsummer(around August 15th) is a holiday season in Japan. But summer holidays differ from company to company, or from person to person. The company I work for doesn't set any holidays in this season. Instead, I can set an holiday week any time in the year.

Anyway, midsummer observes two important memories in Japan. One is that Japan surrendered to the Allies in the world war II on August 15th, with entire nation in ruin. The other is related to Buddhism, in which the spirits of the ancestors visit this world in mid August, occasion being called O-bon. Usually family members living at different places get together in O-bon week. Another occasion when family members get together is new year's holidays. "New year and O-bon coming at the same time" is how Japanese expresses the very busy state.

Kyoto city observes O-bon by burning Chinese characters or figure written on five mountains surrounding the city on August 16th. Most well-known and first to be set fire is Mt. Daimonji. "Dai"(大) of Daimonji means "big" in Chinese character. This event is said to pray the peaceful return of the ancester's spirits that is visiting this(living) world back to another(not living) world. Usually after this event, the scorching heat subsides and usher in autumn. But it seems this year is an exception. We have to endure one or possibly two weeks of another terrible heat in Kansai.

Mt. Daimonji viewed from Kitao-ji bridge around 20:10