Toro Nagashi (Lantern Ceremony) Aug 2025

Event Date: Wednesday, August 6 · 7 - 10pm CD

The Japanese Arts Foundation is proud to welcome you to our annual Toro Nagashi lantern ceremony, in Jackson Park’s Osaka Garden. We hope to invite you to join us in this meaningful ceremony to process the loss of loved ones, and to strengthen our bonds as a community.

Only 300 registrants will be allowed into the space and will recieve a lantern. Available lanterns are limited, please register well in advance. You may decorate and craft your lantern into any design they wish on-site from 7:00-8:00pm with the community.

The ceremony of Toro Nagashi (literally, “floating lanterns”) is a Buddhist tradition held to celebrate the end of Obon season. Toro Nagashi can be a smaller family affair to remember lost family members or a much bigger event to memorialize those who have been lost to natural disasters, war, and other causes. Toro Nagashi officially begins at the moment the ancestors commence their return to the spirit world. Communities come together to guide the spirits down to the water using traditional candle-lit lanterns (toro). The lanterns visually represent the spirits’ drifting home.

Lanterns will be floated in the waters of the Osaka Garden pond, and can be placed throughout the Garden, Yoko Ono’s SKYLANDING, along with the sounds of shamisen courtesy of renowned musician Toyoaki Sanjuro of Asian Improv Arts Midwest will comfort guests throughout the evening. This year coincides with the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. To this day one of the largest Toro Nagashi ceremonies in Japan is held there to pay respect to the lives lost as a result of the bombing.

Esteemed speakers include:

• Lee Francis - First Vice-Chair, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
• Marion Mieko Friebus-Flaman, Ph.D.- Executive Director of the Japan America Society of Chicago
• Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Board Member (TBA)
• Representatives from the Chicago Park District, Japanese Arts Foundation, and Japanese Culture Center

* Additional information will be emailed to attendees the week of the event.

This year’s ceremony is hosted by the Japanese Arts Foundation in partnership with the Chicago Park District, Asian Improv Arts Midwest, Japan America Society of Chicago, and the Japanese Culture Center.

REGISTER FOR FREE