28 July - 26 August 2000
O-ban
The Buddist temple directly across the street from my bedroom window has been the o-ban band's practice site for about two weeks prior to o-ban. The band instruments seem to be drums and cymbals of two or three different sizes and after hearing them for the two weeks I can not say that they play more than one “song” and I haven't detected any improvement or change in their playing.
Here the “band” and what I thought to be a priest are entering a house on opposite side of our apartment from the temple. My students told me that they visit homes that have experienced a death during the last year and prayers are said. There wasn't any “band” playing while the priest was inside but they played while approaching and before entering.
The “band” waiting for the priest and 2-3 assistants to come back out.
I'm not sure what this lone trailing member was doing; didn't seem to have any instrument and didn't go inside.
