Obon in Himeshima is a photographic series about how the Obon festival is celebrated in Himeshima, a fishing island in the Ōita prefecture of Japan. Obon is a traditional Japanese festival to honor the spirits of ancestors, but on this island, it is celebrated in a unique way. The locals, as well as those returning to the island, dress in animal and traditional character costumes, such as foxes and raccoons, and participate in dances around drums made from pufferfish skin.

The series documents several days of the festival, capturing moments of preparation, the dances, and how the community keeps this tradition alive. Through these photos, I wanted to show how Obon in Himeshima is not just a celebration but also a way to remember and connect with the past, as people gather together to celebrate.