I wanted answers about Obon, which perhaps is the only extended vacation period in Japan with its exis-tence tied to a concept also rooted in Western tradi-tion. Beyond the obligatory shrine (or was it temple?) visits on January 1st and god-like status bestowed upon the jolly red bearded man at Christmas, Colonel Sanders, Japan seems like one of the few places in the world less preoccupied with their own religious and spiritual matters and more taken with worshipping mistaken icons borrowed from others. But jellyfsh?
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