Perayaan Obon pada Masa Pandemi dan sebelum Pandemi di Kota Horonobe Jepang Nihon No Horonobe-Chou No Pandemikku-Chuu To Pandemikku No Mae Ni Okeru Obon No Oiwai

Abstract

This research aims to explain the performance of Horonobe City Obon Festival during the pandemic and before the pandemic and to explain the influence of the pandemic on the performance of the Obon Festival in Horonobe City. The author uses Samuel Koenig's theory of cultural change to analyze the changes that occurred in the implementation of Obon Festival before and during the pandemic. The method used by the author in this research is a qualitative method with a type of descriptive research method. Researchers provide a description and explanation of the phenomenon under study using data sources from observations, interviews, and literature studies which are then analyzed to complete this research. The results of the research found that there were differences in the performance of Obon festival in Horonobe City during the pandemic and before the pandemic. Before the pandemic, Horonobe City held several major events every year during the Obon period, starting from fireworks displays, the Meirin Park Festival to the Horonobe Domannaka Odori Parade. However, due to the impact of the pandemic and the new policies of preventing the spread of the virus by the Mayor of Horonobe, most of these events were canceled and postponed until the situation improved. This has led to Obon Festival that should be lively and full of joy, becoming quiet with no families visiting and no events being held.