Japanese dancers

Obon 6
Originally uploaded by Inkyhack.

These are just some of the dancers who performed during the Cortez Obon Odori Buddhist Festival in Merced County, California over the weekend. The dancers came from a wide variety of backgrounds, from the blonde girl in the back to Japanese immigrants. I was surprised at how many non-Japanese people at the event were not only well-versed in Japanese culture, but had adopted parts of the Japanese culture as their own. It's yet another example of how other cultures have helped build the American tapestry.
But the cultural trade off apparently also works both ways. One of the dances and songs demonstrated at the festival was a "traditional" dance and tune about baseball.