Join us for our annual Toro Nagashi (Lantern Ceremony) at the Garden of the Phoenix in Chicago on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024
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Toro Nagashi Lantern Ceremony
Tuesday, August 6h
7pm - 10:00pm
Garden of the Phoenix, Jackson Park
The Japanese Arts Foundation is proud to welcome you to our annual Toro Nagashi lantern ceremony, in Jackson Park’s Garden of the Phoenix. We hope to invite you to join us in this meaningful ceremony to process the loss of loved ones, and to strengthen our bonds as a community.
About Toro Nagashi:
The ceremony of Toro Nagashi (literally, “floating lanterns”) is a Buddhist tradition held to celebrate the end of Obon season. Toro Nagashi can be a smaller family affair to remember lost family members or a much bigger event to memorialize those who have been lost to natural disasters, war, and other causes. Toro Nagashi officially begins at the moment the ancestors commence their return to the spirit world. Communities come together to guide the spirits down to the sea using traditional candle-lit lanterns (toro). Toro nagashi is to send off a spirit to the other world), so the lanterns visually represent the spirits’ send off to the other world.
Lanterns will be floated in the waters of the Garden of the Phoenix pond, and can be placed throughout the garden, Yoko Ono’s SKYLANDING, and along with the sounds of shamisen courtesy of renowned musician Toyoaki Sanjuro of Asian Improv Arts Midwest will comfort guests throughout the evening. This year shares the date of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan where to this date one of the largest Toro Nagashi in the country is held to pay respect to the lives lost as a result of that tragic world event.
Among the speakers:
Rev. Todd Tsuchiya, Resident Minister of the Midwest Buddhist Temple
Dr. Rachel Bronson, President and CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
First 250 to register will receive a complimentary lantern to decorate. After this, we cannot guarantee more lanterns. As of 8/1/24, we surpassed this number of attendees. We still encourage you to attend regardless if you do not have a lantern.
*Those who reserve a lantern will have the opportunity to decorate and craft their lantern into any design they wish on-site from 7:00-8:00pm with the community. Available lanterns are limited, please reserve yours in advance.
**We expect this event to be well attended and visitors will be welcomed on a first come first served basis.
This year’s ceremony is held in partnership with the Japanese Culture Center, Chicago Park District, and Asian Improv Arts Midwest.
Sign up for a lantern-making workshop here!
*date and time subject to change*
Email Ty.yamamoto@japaneseculturecenter.com to learn how to volunteer.