When it comes to Bon Odori, it is one of the Bon memorial services held across Japan during the Obon period from the 13th to the 15th. However, in the Kansai region, especially in Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, there is a custom called Jizō Bon, which is held on the 23rd and 24th of August. The main participants of Jizō Bon are children, and in Kyoto, the place of origin, each neighborhood sets up stalls in front of the Jizō statues to offer flowers and rice cakes, enjoy games and lotteries. In Osaka, where I lived, Bon Odori was held during this time, and as a child, I thought the dance held at this time was Bon Odori.
In each neighborhood, Jizō statues were enshrined, and during Jizō Bon, many offerings were placed in front of the statues, and after the festival, the children in the neighborhood received a share of these offerings. Additionally, participating in Bon Odori was a joy because Ramune soda and juice were handed out, which was a treat for us. For children, Jizō Bon was the biggest and final event of summer vacation, and when it ended, the summer holiday was almost over. While there was still unfinished summer homework to worry about, by that time, the once loud cicadas had fallen silent, and the sky began to change from summer clouds to autumn clouds, leaving only the sadness of summer’s end.
Jizō Bon originated in Kyoto and became widely practiced in the Kansai region, but it seems it did not take root much in Tokai or Kanto regions. This is due to the differences in the history of Jizō worship; in Kyoto, Jizō Bon became very popular during the Muromachi period, whereas in Tokyo, Jizō statues were only made in the Edo period, and in Edo, Inari worship was more prevalent than Jizō worship.

盆踊りと言えば13日から15日のお盆の時期に日本各地で行われる盆供養の一つです。しかし、京都、大阪、神戸など、関西地域を中心に地蔵盆と言う風習があって、8月の23日・24日の両日に行われました。地蔵盆の主役は子どもたちで、発祥地である京都では、町内ごとに地蔵尊の前に屋台を組んで花や餅などをお供えし、ゲームなどの遊び、福引きなどを楽しむようですが、私が住む大阪ではこの時に盆踊りがあって、子供の頃は、この時に行われる踊りが盆踊りだと思っていました。
町内毎にお地蔵さんが祀られていて、地蔵盆にはお地蔵さんの前には沢山のお供え物が供えられ、地蔵盆が終わると近所中の子供達にお裾分けされました。また、盆踊りに参加すると、ラムネやジュースが配られ、それが楽しみで踊りに行ったものです。地蔵盆は、子どもたちにとって夏休み最大にして最後のイベント、地蔵盆が終わると夏休みも残りわずかです。やり残した夏休みの宿題が気掛かりですが、その頃には、あんなにうるさかった蝉の声はいつのまにか聞こえなくなり、空には入道雲から秋の雲に変わりつつ、夏の終わりの寂しさだけが残りました。
地蔵盆は京都生まれで、近畿地方では広く行われた行事ですが、東海や関東にはほとんど定着しなかったようです。それは、地蔵信仰の歴史の違いによるものので、京都では室町時代に地蔵盆が大流行しましたが、東京では江戸時代になってやっとお地蔵さんがつくられたことと、江戸にはお地蔵さんよりお稲荷さん信仰の方が盛んだったからのようです。