Fireworks while camping. As I've written before, in the summer of 2004 I went to Japan through a Sister Cities student exchange.  The bulk of the trip was spent with a host family in Chino, Nagano Prefecture.  This period in late August is during the Obon festival where Japanese honor the spirits of their ancestors. Its sort of like if you combine the American aspect of Thanksgiving where everyone goes home, Mexican Dia de los Muertos, and every possible firework related holiday. There are many components of the Obon festival. One key piece is the Bon Odori dance, that is danced by