Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Summer

Seasonality: Late Summer/ July

Japanese Name: Gion Matsuri/ Saki Gion Matsuri/ Ato Gion Matsuri/ Yoi-yama/ Byobu Matsuri/ Saki Matsuri Yamaboko Junko/ Ato Matsuri Yamaboko Junko/ Mikoshi/ Uchiwa/ Taiko/ Ondotori

English Name: Yasaka Shrine Festival/ Early Yasaka Shrine Festival/ Late Yasaka Shrine Festival/ Pre-festival Party/ Folding Screen Festival/ Early Festival Float Procession/ Late Festival Float Procession/ Divine Palanquin/ Round Fan/ Fat Drum/ Leaders

    Gion Matsuri (祇園祭), the festival of Yasaka Shrine, is the most famous festival in Japan. It was first celebrated in 869 CE in an attempt to appease the gods during a plague outbreak in Kyoto. It consists of multiple events (click here for the day-by-day breakdown) that take place over the entire month of July and are divided into the Early Gion Festival (先祇園祭, Saki Gion Matsuri) and the Later Gion Festival (後祇園祭, Ato Gion Matsuri). Before each procession, there are pre-festival parties known collectively as yoi-yama (宵山). Depending on the day, these pre-matsuri celebrations are known as Yoi-yoi-yoi-yama (宵宵宵山, July 14 or 21), Yoi-yoi-yama (宵宵山, July 15 or 22), and Yoi-yama (宵山, July 16 or 23). At the same time as the early yoi-yama celebrations is Byobu Matsuri (屏風祭), a festival where local residents put precious family heirlooms on display for the general public. On July 17, the grand procession of floats, known as Saki Matsuri Yamaboko Junko (先祭山鉾巡行), takes place and a limited number of the impressive floats are paraded for 3 km starting from Shijo-Karasuma Station, up Kawaramachi-dori and ending at Karasuma-Oike Station. After a 48 year hiatus, in 2014, a second smaller procession of floats known as Ato Matsuri Yamaboko Junko (後祭山鉾巡行) was reintroduced. On July 24, the remaining floats are paraded down the streets in the reverse of the earlier parade’s route. The yoi-yama of the Ato Matsuri tend to be less popular than the yoi-yama held for the Saki Matsuri. 

    Mikoshi (神輿, “divine palanquin”) are portable shrines used to transport the gods during Shinto matsuri celebrations. After departing from Yasaka Shrine, the Gion Festival mikoshi are carried through the neighboring streets, and after a week of visiting temporary stations prepared for it around the city, the mikoshi once again return to their home shrine. The Yamaboko Junko was originally designed as a holy ritual to welcome the mikoshi to the city. However, the parade (as well as the yoiyama celebrations) are often considered the gist of Gion Matsuri rather than just the opening acts to the mikoshi procession. The three mikoshi of Gion Matsuri are carried along the parade route by yocho (予兆, mikoshi bearers). Each mikoshi can weigh up to 2.5 tons and need as manys 700 yochou to take turns bearing its weight. At various stops, each groups of yochou will perform a togyo (渡御), a mikoshi ritual to banish bad luck from the neighborhood and bring purity. 

    Ondotori (音頭取り, planner/leader) are the men that can often be seen riding atop the giant hoko floats while carrying folding fans and directing the yocho pulling the float along the parade route. The ondotori are critical to when these massive floats have to make right angle turns in a process called tsuji-mawashi (辻廻し, “intersection go-around”). During tsuji-mawashi, the hoko float comes to a stop over green bamboo laid on the ground with water sprinkled over it, and is gradually turned in three or four pulls making for a spectacular sight. 

    Taiko (太鼓, “fat drum”) is a drumming style of Japanese origin. Various taiko drums have been used in Japan for over 1400 years and possibly much longer. Taiko as we know them today bear strong resemblance to Chinese and Korean instruments, which were probably introduced in the waves of Korean and Chinese cultural and religious influence from 300-900 CE. Thus, the rumbling of taiko has long been associated with the gods and has been appropriated by the religions of Japan. As the belief that gods resided within taiko drums developed, only holy men were allowed to play it, and as the Shinto and Buddhist religions developed in Japan, this custom remained. Today, taiko continue to find a place in religious ceremonies, both Buddhist and Shinto. It’s extremely common to find them in both temples and shrines as well as in holidays sponsored by those religions such as the Buddhist Bon Odori celebration and the various Shinto festivals. 

 Uchiwa (団扇, "group fan”) are non-folding fans with long handles whose paper surfaces can come in oval, round, square or other shapes. The traditional uchiwa fan is made of bamboo, with multiple layers forming the structure onto which the fan paper is glued. It’s a fan commonly used during the summer months and often more elaborate versions of them are given as gifts to guests at events such as weddings. 

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Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Summer

Seasonality: Late Summer/ July

Japanese Name: Tanabata/ Kikkoden/ Hikoboshi-Orihime/ Hikoboshi/ Orihime/ Tanzaku/ Sasatake/ Tanabata-kazari

English Name: Star Festival/ Festival to Plead for Skills/ Cowherder-Weaver Girl/ Cowherder/ Weaving Princess/ Paper Strips/ Small Bamboo/ Star Festival Decorations

    Tanabata (七夕, meaning "Evening of the seventh"), also known as the Star Festival, is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on 7 July of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August. The festival was introduced to Japan by the Empress Kōken in 755. It originated from "The Festival to Plead for Skills" (乞巧奠 Kikkōden), an alternative name for Qixi, which was celebrated in China and also was adopted in the Kyoto Imperial Palace from the Heian period.The festival gained widespread popularity amongst the general public by the early Edo period, when it became mixed with various Obon or Bon traditions, and developed into the modern Tanabata festival. Popular customs relating to the festival varied by region of the country, but generally, girls wished for better sewing and craftsmanship, and boys wished for better handwriting by writing wishes on strips of paper.

  Hikoboshi-Orihime (牛郎織女, "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl") is the famous Chinese folklore story that inspired the Japanese Tanabata festival, as well as the Chinese Qixi and Korean Chilseok festivals. In the most popular version of the story, it says that:

Orihime (織姫, Weaving Princess), daughter of the Tentei (天帝, Sky King, or the universe itself), wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (天の川, Milky Way, lit. "heavenly river"). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it.

However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone.

Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi (彦星, Cowman/Cowherd Star, or literally Boy Star) who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa.

When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven.

In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet.

Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again.

Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving.

The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river.

It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come because of the rise of the river and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet. The rain of this day is called "The tear of Orihime and Hikoboshi".

   Tanzaku (短冊, paper strips), are what people in present-day Japan generally use to celebrate Tanabata by writing wishes, sometimes in the form of poetry, and hanging them from bamboo, sometimes with other decorations. The practice of making wishes on Tanabata comes from another name for the holiday, Kikkoden, which means “The Festival to Plead for Skills,” such as sewing for girls and handwriting/craftsmanship for boys. Over time, the various colors of the tanzaku came to represent the five Eastern elements and are associated with specific types of wishes.

Blue or green tanzaku represent the Wood element, the star Vega, virtuousness and self-improvement.

Red tanzaku represent the Fire element, the star Antares and appreciation for ancestors or parents.

Yellow tanzaku represent the Earth element, the star Altair, friendships and trust.

White tanzaku represent the Metal element, the Milky Way, commitments and promises.

Black or purple tanzaku represent the Water element, the color of the night sky, and improved education.

In earlier Tanabata celebrations, once the festival had ended, these decorations were floated down a river or sent out to see so that the gods could take them away, a similar tradition to toro nagashi.

   Sasatake (笹竹;篠竹, “small bamboo”) is where tanzaku and other decorations, known as tanabata-kazari (Tanabata ornaments), are hung during the Tanabata holiday.  When this holiday first came to Japan, wishes were written on the leaves of the sacred kaji (mulberry) tree. As time passed, the event transformed into a festival for wishing on the stars by writing wishes on tanzaku instead of kaji leaves, and hanging these strips of paper on bamboo branches. Incidentally, the bamboo has also been a sacred plant since the olden days, just like the mulberry tree, and it is also said that gods live in bamboo trees.

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Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Summer

Seasonality: Late Summer/ July

Japanese Name: Asagao

English Name: Morning Glories

    Asagao (朝顔, morning glories) is one of the most popular summer plants in Japan, very often depicted in yukata and other summer wafuku items. Their Japanese name translates directly as “beauty in the morning.” The pattern is also known as kengoshi, which usually means the medicinal asagao seeds but can refer to the plant itself. Asagao symbolizes summer, especially during the Edo period. It was a favorite flower among commoners and was extremely popular in the Bunka era (1804-1818 CE). Asagao blooms splendidly, everywhere at once, but only for a short while. 

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Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Summer

Seasonality: Late Summer/ July

Japanese Name: Natsu Matsuri/ Hanabi

English Name: Summer Festivals/ Fireworks

    Natsu matsuri (夏祭, summer festivals) is a collective term for festivals observed in summer from the beginning of July through the end of August. Many summer festivals in Japan were either originally associated with O-bon, Tanabata, Gion, and other festivals, or had a peripheral relationship with them. Many of the natsu matsuri tend to have originated in the events observed in rural communities to relieve farmers' fatigue from their agricultural work in the summer season, or originated in the events observed in urban communities to hold memorial services for the people who died from epidemic in summer before the Edo Period. According to folklore research, a natsu matsuri is also interpreted to be a result of development of ancient utagaki (歌垣, a poetry reading party). At some port towns, a variety of natsu matsuri with abundant local colors are unfurled, including minato matsuri (port festivals). A lot of festivals at shrines are also observed in this season. Typical events held for most natsu matsuri include: O-bon festival dance, fireworks, street stalls, karaoke contests, magic shows as well as performances of popular songs and animated children’s television characters. 

    Hanabi (花火, fireworks) were originally used to ward off evil spirits and have a long history in Japan. They’re an integral part of Japanese summers where hundreds of firework shows are held every year across the country, mainly during the summer holidays in July and August, with some of them drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators. The firework shows themselves typically start some time after sunset and last one to two hours. Many of the longer shows are broken up into multiple shorter segments, interrupted by the announcement of titles and sponsors. They often end with a grand finale consisting of hundreds of shells launched simultaneously. 

   Uchiwa (団扇, "group fan”) are non-folding fans with long handles whose paper surfaces can come in oval, round, square or other shapes. The traditional uchiwa fan is made of bamboo, with multiple layers forming the structure onto which the fan paper is glued. It’s a fan commonly used during the summer months and often more elaborate versions of them are given as gifts to guests at events such as weddings. 

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Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Summer

Seasonality: Late Summer/ July

Japanese Name: Tanabata/ Kikkoden/ Hikoboshi-Orihime/ Hikoboshi/ Orihime/ Tanzaku/ Sasatake/ Tanabata-kazari

English Name: Star Festival/ Festival to Plead for Skills/ Cowherder-Weaver Girl/ Cowherder/ Weaving Princess/ Paper Strips/ Small Bamboo/ Star Festival Decorations

     Tanabata (七夕, meaning "Evening of the seventh"), also known as the Star Festival, is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on 7 July of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August. The festival was introduced to Japan by the Empress Kōken in 755. It originated from "The Festival to Plead for Skills" (乞巧奠 Kikkōden), an alternative name for Qixi, which was celebrated in China and also was adopted in the Kyoto Imperial Palace from the Heian period.The festival gained widespread popularity amongst the general public by the early Edo period, when it became mixed with various Obon or Bon traditions, and developed into the modern Tanabata festival. Popular customs relating to the festival varied by region of the country, but generally, girls wished for better sewing and craftsmanship, and boys wished for better handwriting by writing wishes on strips of paper. 

   Hikoboshi-Orihime (牛郎織女, "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl") is the famous Chinese folklore story that inspired the Japanese Tanabata festival, as well as the Chinese Qixi and Korean Chilseok festivals. In the most popular version of the story, it says that:

Orihime (織姫, Weaving Princess), daughter of the Tentei (天帝, Sky King, or the universe itself), wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (天の川, Milky Way, lit. "heavenly river"). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it.

However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone.

Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi (彦星, Cowman/Cowherd Star, or literally Boy Star) who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa.

When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven.

In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet.

Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again.

Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving.

The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river.

It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come because of the rise of the river and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet. The rain of this day is called "The tear of Orihime and Hikoboshi". 

    Tanzaku (短冊, paper strips), are what people in present-day Japan generally use to celebrate Tanabata by writing wishes, sometimes in the form of poetry, and hanging them from bamboo, sometimes with other decorations. The practice of making wishes on Tanabata comes from another name for the holiday, Kikkoden, which means “The Festival to Plead for Skills,” such as sewing for girls and handwriting/craftsmanship for boys. Over time, the various colors of the tanzaku came to represent the five Eastern elements and are associated with specific types of wishes.

Blue or green tanzaku represent the Wood element, the star Vega, virtuousness and self-improvement.

Red tanzaku represent the Fire element, the star Antares and appreciation for ancestors or parents.

Yellow tanzaku represent the Earth element, the star Altair, friendships and trust.

White tanzaku represent the Metal element, the Milky Way, commitments and promises.

Black or purple tanzaku represent the Water element, the color of the night sky, and improved education.

In earlier Tanabata celebrations, once the festival had ended, these decorations were floated down a river or sent out to see so that the gods could take them away, a similar tradition to toro nagashi. 

    Sasatake (笹竹;篠竹, “small bamboo”) is where tanzaku and other decorations, known as tanabata-kazari (Tanabata ornaments), are hung during the Tanabata holiday.  When this holiday first came to Japan, wishes were written on the leaves of the sacred kaji (mulberry) tree. As time passed, the event transformed into a festival for wishing on the stars by writing wishes on tanzaku instead of kaji leaves, and hanging these strips of paper on bamboo branches. Incidentally, the bamboo has also been a sacred plant since the olden days, just like the mulberry tree, and it is also said that gods live in bamboo trees. 

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Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Summer

Seasonality: Late Summer/ July

Japanese Name: Tanabata/ Kikkoden/ Hikoboshi-Orihime/ Hikoboshi/ Orihime/ Tanzaku/ Sasatake/ Tanabata-kazari

English Name: Star Festival/ Festival to Plead for Skills/ Cowherder-Weaver Girl/ Cowherder/ Weaving Princess/ Paper Strips/ Small Bamboo/ Star Festival Decorations

   Tanabata (七夕, meaning "Evening of the seventh"), also known as the Star Festival, is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on 7 July of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August. The festival was introduced to Japan by the Empress Kōken in 755. It originated from "The Festival to Plead for Skills" (乞巧奠 Kikkōden), an alternative name for Qixi, which was celebrated in China and also was adopted in the Kyoto Imperial Palace from the Heian period.The festival gained widespread popularity amongst the general public by the early Edo period, when it became mixed with various Obon or Bon traditions, and developed into the modern Tanabata festival. Popular customs relating to the festival varied by region of the country, but generally, girls wished for better sewing and craftsmanship, and boys wished for better handwriting by writing wishes on strips of paper. 

   Hikoboshi-Orihime (牛郎織女, "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl") is the famous Chinese folklore story that inspired the Japanese Tanabata festival, as well as the Chinese Qixi and Korean Chilseok festivals. In the most popular version of the story, it says that:

Orihime (織姫, Weaving Princess), daughter of the Tentei (天帝, Sky King, or the universe itself), wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (天の川, Milky Way, lit. "heavenly river"). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it.

However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone.

Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi (彦星, Cowman/Cowherd Star, or literally Boy Star) who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa.

When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven.

In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet.

Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again.

Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving.

The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river.

It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come because of the rise of the river and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet. The rain of this day is called "The tear of Orihime and Hikoboshi". 

    Tanzaku (短冊, paper strips), are what people in present-day Japan generally use to celebrate Tanabata by writing wishes, sometimes in the form of poetry, and hanging them from bamboo, sometimes with other decorations. The practice of making wishes on Tanabata comes from another name for the holiday, Kikkoden, which means “The Festival to Plead for Skills,” such as sewing for girls and handwriting/craftsmanship for boys. Over time, the various colors of the tanzaku came to represent the five Eastern elements and are associated with specific types of wishes.

Blue or green tanzaku represent the Wood element, the star Vega, virtuousness and self-improvement.

Red tanzaku represent the Fire element, the star Antares and appreciation for ancestors or parents.

Yellow tanzaku represent the Earth element, the star Altair, friendships and trust.

White tanzaku represent the Metal element, the Milky Way, commitments and promises.

Black or purple tanzaku represent the Water element, the color of the night sky, and improved education.

In earlier Tanabata celebrations, once the festival had ended, these decorations were floated down a river or sent out to see so that the gods could take them away, a similar tradition to toro nagashi. 

    Sasatake (笹竹;篠竹, “small bamboo”) is where tanzaku and other decorations, known as tanabata-kazari (Tanabata ornaments), are hung during the Tanabata holiday.  When this holiday first came to Japan, wishes were written on the leaves of the sacred kaji (mulberry) tree. As time passed, the event transformed into a festival for wishing on the stars by writing wishes on tanzaku instead of kaji leaves, and hanging these strips of paper on bamboo branches. Incidentally, the bamboo has also been a sacred plant since the olden days, just like the mulberry tree, and it is also said that gods live in bamboo trees. As high as you hold Sasatake, it is said that your wish will be granted better. It grows straight to the sky and when the wind blows, the bamboo leafs make a sound, which is said to call ancestors. For this reason, it’s used for sending people’s wishes to the heaven, the gods or their ancestors.

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Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Summer

Seasonality: Late Summer/ July

Japanese Name: Tanabata/ Kikkoden/ Hikoboshi-Orihime/ Hikoboshi/ Orihime/ Tanzaku/ Sasatake/ Tanabata-kazari/ Hyotan/ Nasu

English Name: Star Festival/ Festival to Plead for Skills/ Cowherder-Weaver Girl/ Cowherder/ Weaving Princess/ Paper Strips/ Small Bamboo/ Star Festival Decorations/ Bottle Gourd/ Eggplant/ Aubergine

     Tanabata (七夕, meaning "Evening of the seventh"), also known as the Star Festival, is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on 7 July of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August. The festival was introduced to Japan by the Empress Kōken in 755. It originated from "The Festival to Plead for Skills" (乞巧奠 Kikkōden), an alternative name for Qixi, which was celebrated in China and also was adopted in the Kyoto Imperial Palace from the Heian period.The festival gained widespread popularity amongst the general public by the early Edo period, when it became mixed with various Obon or Bon traditions, and developed into the modern Tanabata festival. Popular customs relating to the festival varied by region of the country, but generally, girls wished for better sewing and craftsmanship, and boys wished for better handwriting by writing wishes on strips of paper. 

   Hikoboshi-Orihime (牛郎織女, "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl") is the famous Chinese folklore story that inspired the Japanese Tanabata festival, as well as the Chinese Qixi and Korean Chilseok festivals. In the most popular version of the story, it says that:

Orihime (織姫, Weaving Princess), daughter of the Tentei (天帝, Sky King, or the universe itself), wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (天の川, Milky Way, lit. "heavenly river"). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it.

However, Orihime was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone.

Concerned about his daughter, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi (彦星, Cowman/Cowherd Star, or literally Boy Star) who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa.

When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and married shortly thereafter. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tentei and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven.

In anger, Tentei separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa and forbade them to meet.

Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again.

Tentei was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if she worked hard and finished her weaving.

The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river.

It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies cannot come because of the rise of the river and the two lovers must wait until another year to meet. The rain of this day is called "The tear of Orihime and Hikoboshi". 

    Tanzaku (短冊, paper strips), are what people in present-day Japan generally use to celebrate Tanabata by writing wishes, sometimes in the form of poetry, and hanging them from bamboo, sometimes with other decorations. The practice of making wishes on Tanabata comes from another name for the holiday, Kikkoden, which means “The Festival to Plead for Skills,” such as sewing for girls and handwriting/craftsmanship for boys. Over time, the various colors of the tanzaku came to represent the five Eastern elements and are associated with specific types of wishes.

Blue or green tanzaku represent the Wood element, the star Vega, virtuousness and self-improvement.

Red tanzaku represent the Fire element, the star Antares and appreciation for ancestors or parents.

Yellow tanzaku represent the Earth element, the star Altair, friendships and trust.

White tanzaku represent the Metal element, the Milky Way, commitments and promises.

Black or purple tanzaku represent the Water element, the color of the night sky, and improved education.

In earlier Tanabata celebrations, once the festival had ended, these decorations were floated down a river or sent out to see so that the gods could take them away, a similar tradition to toro nagashi. 

    Sasatake (笹竹;篠竹, “small bamboo”) is where tanzaku and other decorations, known as tanabata-kazari (Tanabata ornaments), are hung during the Tanabata holiday.  When this holiday first came to Japan, wishes were written on the leaves of the sacred kaji (mulberry) tree. As time passed, the event transformed into a festival for wishing on the stars by writing wishes on tanzaku instead of kaji leaves, and hanging these strips of paper on bamboo branches. Incidentally, the bamboo has also been a sacred plant since the olden days, just like the mulberry tree, and it is also said that gods live in bamboo trees.

     Hyotan (瓢箪, gourd-basket) are a type of summer vine vegetable used to make containers for liquids once the vegetable is dried and hollowed. Introduced to Japan in 14,000 BCE, they have been a part of Japanese culture for close to 10,000 years. The hyotan is featured in this Tanabata decoration because it is well-known that Hikoboshi was fond of sake. 

    Nasu (茄子, eggplants or aubergines) are often popular foods to eat during Tanabata. When Tanabata (then known as Qixi or Kikkoden) was first imported to Japan, it coincided with the O-Bon holiday (15th day of the 7th lunar month) as well as a native Japanese purification ritual known as Tanabata. The Japanese Imperial Court would celebrate Kikkoden the night before Tanabata with alters laden with peaches, aubergines, abalone, needles of gold and silver and yarn of the five colours, as well as a koto and many others were left as offerings for Orihime to bless their women with better sewing skills. Over time, Kikkoden and Tanabata eventually merged to become the same holiday. 

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Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Summer

Seasonality: All Summer/ May - July

Japanese Name: Natsu Matsuri/ Kingyo

English Name: Summer Festival/ Goldfish

    Natsu matsuri (夏祭, summer festivals) is a collective term for festivals observed in summer from the beginning of July through the end of August. Many summer festivals in Japan were either originally associated with O-bon, Tanabata, Gion, and other festivals, or had a peripheral relationship with them. Many of the natsu matsuri tend to have originated in the events observed in rural communities to relieve farmers' fatigue from their agricultural work in the summer season, or originated in the events observed in urban communities to hold memorial services for the people who died from epidemic in summer before the Edo Period. According to folklore research, a natsu matsuri is also interpreted to be a result of development of ancient utagaki (歌垣, a poetry reading party). At some port towns, a variety of natsu matsuri with abundant local colors are unfurled, including minato matsuri (port festivals). A lot of festivals at shrines are also observed in this season. Typical events held for most natsu matsuri include: O-bon festival dance, fireworks, street stalls, karaoke contests, magic shows as well as performances of popular songs and animated children’s television characters. 

    Kingyo (金魚, goldfish) were introduced into Japan via China in the 16th century where they were popular and kept only by the aristocracy and samurai. The Japanese set up breeding programs and eventually developed their unique strains of goldfish to be appreciated from the top view. Thereafter, kingyo-sukui (金魚すくい, goldfish scooping) became popular during the Edo period, leading to the sale of goldfish in towns. Goldfish are a particularly beloved summer feature in Japan that will make you feel “coolness” and “healing” with the way it elegantly swims in water on a hot summer’s day. 

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