#tanzaku

Softest tones for this summer outfit, pairing a lovely obi with embroidered kani (crab), and a kimono full of cute seasonal patterns:

Tanabata/star festival themed: tanzaku (paper strips on bamboo), hoshi (star)

Summer treats : kaizukushi (assorted shells), suika (watermelon),

Poem Written on Tanzaku, Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado, Kamakura period, circa 12th-14th century, Harvard Art Museums: Calligraphy

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of the Hofer Collection of the Arts of Asia Size: H. 34.8 x W. 5.3 cm (13 11/16 x 2 1/16 in.) Medium: Tanzaku (long, slender poem slip) mounted as a hanging scroll; ink on indigo-dyed paper with cloud pattern

* * * * * *

"Ten thousand / Atoms of sorrow whirl away / In the wind."

I've really been enjoying hanging tanzaku up with friends' wishes each year. Tanabata's such a nice time. Everything ends up so colorful and it's nice to see how many people got involved with all the slips!

We also went out for some nice udon and tasty icecream.

"you talk as if you knew me"

"my weapon wonders where my rage went. it should know it never left, but i can't use it anymore. i'm not allowed."

Miho Kajioka (JP, Okayama, Feb 21, 1973, Kyoto based)

#0127, 2024 Toned gelatin silver print 36,4 x 7,5 cm (Tanzaku) Edition of 3 plus 1 AP

What is Tanabata?

Tanabata is a Japanese festival based on a Chinese folklore story, based on the Chinese Qixi festival. The legend states that every year on the 7th day of the 7th month, Orihime and Okoboshi (Chinese mythical figures who are lovers) will meet. The 7th month is July. Therefore, Tanabata is today! (July 7).

Tanabata customs

Tanabata is celebrated by the celebrators writing their wishes for the future on a piece of coloured paper and then proceeding to hang it on bamboo. This process is called "tanzaku" (短冊)Sometimes, these wishes are written in the form of poetry, which is reminiscent of Tanabata Customs from the era in which Tanabata was a new celebration when Japanese aristocrats held poetry contests. Please note that some customs vary from region to region.

Tanabata in popular culture

Instance 1: Animal Crossing

The Animal Crossing video game franchise is created by Japanese video game giant Nintendo. Nintendo, being Japanese, decided to incorporate Japanese culture into the games to promote it to the western world. In earlier games of the franchise (the Japanese version of the first game along with Animal Crossing: New Leaf) players can obtain in-game bamboo. In the latest game (Animal Crossing: New Horizons), Tanabata is "celebrated" by "selling" limited-editions bamboo plants with tanzaku, and traditional yukata of Orihime and Hikoboshi.

Instance 2: 2008 G8 Summit

In 2008, the date of the G8 Summit (meeting of the "Great 8" countries leaders) was located in Toyako, Japan and coincided with Tanabata. To celebrate, the leaders made tanzaku and wrote their goals, in place of their wishes.