[Obon] Is there a homecoming rush in the other world too?

My name is Uba.
Thank you for visiting.

This year's Obon is coming to an end.
How did you all spend Obon with your ancestors?

Well, today is the day our ancestors return to the other world. Let's see them off properly (this article is one day late).

In Nagasaki, the Spirit Boat Procession is famous.
The Spirit Boat Procession is an event where people carry the boats that the ancestors ride on (spirit boats) through the streets, while setting off firecrackers all around them.

Besides that, cucumber horses and eggplant cows are also iconic features of Obon. You make legs for cucumbers and eggplants using things like disposable chopsticks to make them look like horses and cows.

When they return from the other world, we want them to ride a horse and come back quickly. When they leave, we want them to ride a cow and go back slowly. These wishes are embodied in those figures.

Now then. Obon is famous for ancestors returning, but are they really all coming back from the other world?

"Is returning mandatory? Isn't there anyone who thinks, 'I'm not going home this summer, I'll just spend it relaxing'?"my wife asks.

Ah, I really love that my wife thinks about things like this. But, she sure asked a troublesome question. She's really out there...

But, that is certainly true. Even among people living in this world, there are those who return to their hometowns every year, and those who don't return and spend the time relaxing.

After all, there are people who don't have time off, and there are people who go on trips somewhere, right?

Even our ancestors who have become spirits might not want to come home every year. There are probably people who have nowhere to return to. Like people who don't have any descendants, perhaps?

"Ah! Maybe the people who have nowhere to go back to end up spending time in abandoned buildings, and when people come there for a test of courage, they show up in their photos as spirit photos!" my wife says.

Ah, I really love my wife for thinking about things like this. But I also think, she's brought up something troublesome. She's really out there...

"How about we don't go home this year and go on a trip instead? Like, how about Hawaii? Maybe the ghosts are going on a group trip somewhere like that." she says happily.

Ah, I really love my wife for thinking about things like this... (omitted below)

I tried imagining it.
A group of ghosts riding cucumber horses, aiming for Hawaii. A massive swarm crossing the ocean.

The local ghosts who see such a group also turn pale, saying, "Oh, Japanese, scary..."

After playing around to their heart's content, they ride eggplant cows back home. The Hawaiian ghosts turn pale once again, saying, "Oh, Japanese, scary..."

Following this logic, the cucumber horses are left behind in Hawaii. They'll probably be chopped up and used for poke (a local Hawaiian dish). Sorry, cucumber horse! (Neigh...)

What were we talking about again?

Right, we were talking about Obon.
How did you all spend your Obon?

To all our ancestors, see you again next year...

Thank you for reading this far.
A swarm of cucumber horses is scary...

Well then, this was Uba from a corner of Sasebo.