by Phoenix, HSM team writer

It seems it’s that time of year again, as the Bon Festival begins this week in SCEE Home.

Granzella brings the wonderful Japanese festival to Home residents, complete with two attractions. The Bon Festival is a Japanese summer tradition, having its roots in Buddhist-Confucian traditional customs. It is based on the oral tradition where a Buddhist disciple was able to see his deceased mother trapped in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, were she was suffering. In his quest to release her from this state, he was instructed by Buddha to make offerings to the Monks who had completed their summer retreat. So on the 15 day of the 7^th month, the disciple did so and was able to release his mother from torment. The man further was able to see the many sacrifices his mother had made throughout his life and was so overcome with joy so that he danced the first Bon Odori, “Bon Dance”.

Over the centuries it has become a time of family reunions when those who are away return to ancestral places, where they visit and clean the gravesites of deceased family members. It is believed that at his time the spirits of family members will return and visit the family altars.

The Japanese participants populate a fair-like town center where the Bon-Odori or Bon Dance is done around an erected scaffold platform. This has been part of the celebration for over 500 years; the dance differs from region to region. Granzella has in the past incorporated this into their transformed lounge, and I have no doubt they will again. The Bon Festival is one of several festivals celebrated in Japan in the summer months. Depending upon the regional location in Japan, the festival is celebrated at different times during the summer.

The August Bon Festival “Hachigatsu Bon” is celebrated most commonly, commencing on August 15 and lasting three days. It is a time of family and ancestral celebration honoring the spirits of family ancestors, and it is the festival Granzella celebrates in Home. Beginning August 6 in the SCEE and SCEJ Home regions, Home residents will find the Great Edo Lounge transformed for the festivities with an ending date of September 10, 2014. The SCEA Home region will celebrate this festival starting on August 13.

Granzella introduces the Twin Blade Katana set and the Thorned Samurai Armor this year to their festival events; it is a new set of fighting armor to fight Edo villages evil Cyclops and his minions. Just as the name suggests, you will hold a sword in each hand as you defend Edo, should you chose to purchase this new armor. The two katanas you equip will cut down enemies doubly fast — and with them equipped, you are capable of releasing a Chaos Slash by consuming soul power.

If you wear the Thorned Armor, you will be impervious to attack from Konaki elder; this mononoke won’t be able to get his claws
into you. Granzella has more exclusive rewards for top points earned during Operation Defend Edo while the Bon Festival lasts, but if you die you lose all your points in the current game. With or without the new armor and swords, if you haven’t played Defend Edo in a while, now is the time to perfect your skill and get to slaying those mononoke!

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