Dear Pet Hosts 'Rainbow Bridge Obon Memorial Festival' on August 8, 2026

Honoring Our Furry Friends: The Rainbow Bridge Obon Memorial Festival

Dear Pet, a specialist pet memorial store operated by In Loving Memory Corporation, is set to host the "Rainbow Bridge Everyone's Obon Memorial Festival" on August 8, 2026. This event aims to offer a space for families to send their thoughts and love to their beloved pets who have journeyed to the sky.

In Japan, Obon is a traditional event where it is believed that ancestors return to this world once a year. Nowadays, many families wish to extend this sacred observance to their pets, treating them with the same respect and devotion as human family members.

This festival is part of Dear Pet's ongoing efforts to provide comforting services catering to grieving families. The upcoming Obon festival will mark the 8th anniversary of this cherished occasion, drawing many attendees each year.

Leading the ceremony will be Harumasa Yokota, widely recognized as the "Animal Monk." As the priest of Cho Fukuzji in Niigata, he has committed to offering prayers for pets since he became a monk at the age of 27. His presence adds a deeply spiritual layer to the event, helping attendees convey their heartfelt emotions to their departed furry companions.

Dear Pet's dedication to pet memorial services began in a time when the idea was still emerging in Japan. They have not only offered the sale of pet altars and accessories but have also created spaces for the rituals that honor lost pets. The core philosophy driving Dear Pet is the desire to accompany those mourning the loss and to facilitate a space for individuals to express their grief and cherish the memories of their beloved pets.

The festival aims to transform the sadness of saying goodbye into an opportunity to celebrate the beautiful memories shared with pets. By continuing to foster connections between families and their departed companions, Dear Pet hopes to create a comforting place for remembrance during the Obon festival.

Event Details

- Title: Rainbow Bridge Everyone's Obon Memorial Festival
- Date: August 8, 2026 (Saturday)
- Location: Dear Pet Tokyo Ceremony Room, Chiyoda, Tokyo
- Participation: In-person and online participation available
- Activities: Sutra chanting, Dharma talks, photo slideshows, message offerings, and more.
- Key Priest: Harumasa Yokota
- Application Deadline: July 25, 2026, 17:00 (Note: In-person participation is fully booked, but online registration is available).

Embracing Personalized Memorial Rituals

The way people welcome the spirits of their pets during Obon can take various forms. It can be through attending the memorial festival, where sutras are chanted, or by setting up traditional Obon decorations at home. Both methods hold significant value in honoring the deceased.

In response to this, Dear Pet provides welcome sets for families preparing to honor their pets at home. These include the "Obon Welcome Set" and the "New Obon Welcome Set," designed specifically for families experiencing their first Obon without their pet.

Both sets include essential decorations paired with manuals guiding how to celebrate and remember during Obon. Additionally, families can write messages to their pets on provided postcards. These messages can be mailed or brought to the Dear Pet Tokyo location where, after prayer, they will be carefully burned to symbolize release and respect for their pet’s spirit. Any messages that do not arrive by the festival date will also be honored and prayed over later.

Exclusive Products

Obon Welcome Set

- Includes: Fluffy spiritual horse (acrylic), chirimenkatsu (crepe) spiritual horse, chirimenkatsu hōzuki (Japanese lantern plant), assorted fruit offerings (chirimenkatsu), charcoal and plate for the returning fire, rainbow decorative paper (reversible), Obon Manual, Obon Memorial Manual, Obon Memorial Postcard, purification salt.
- Product Page Here

New Obon Welcome Set

- Adds: White framed lantern, a special lantern used only for the first Obon, symbolizing purity and welcoming the first-time homecoming of the spirit.
- Product Page Here

Both sets can be purchased through the Dear Pet online store or in any of the five physical locations nationwide.

Media Inquiries

For media representatives seeking information about the "Rainbow Bridge Everyone's Obon Memorial Festival," interviews, or inquiries, all requests will be accommodated, except filming on the day of the event to ensure a peaceful environment for attendees who wish to silently pray. However, we can offer pre-event interviews, images from previous festivals, and information on both the Welcome Sets. Please contact us below.

Contact Information:
In Loving Memory Corporation, Marketing Department
Yayo Oda
TEL: 03-6910-0635
E-mail: [email protected]