Opening Remarks
Keynote Remarks
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July 2024
Cultural Article
Tanabata in Japan
By Naoki Sato
In this issue, I would like to tell you about Tanabata in Japan, and in particular the Tanabata Festival in Sendai.
About Japanese Tanabata
In Japan, July 7 is called "Tanabata," a celebration where the custom is to decorate bamboo grass and trees with wishes written on strips of paper and other ornaments.
Tanabata bamboo decorations
（七夕の笹飾りby MASA is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0）
There is a legend about Tanabata.
Orihime, the daughter of a god, was a talented weaver who was very hard working. Her father was worried about Orihime, who was constantly working, and brought her together with Hikoboshi, a cowherd who was also a hard worker. Orihime and Hikoboshi got married and became a harmonious couple, but they neglected their work because they enjoyed their married life. The god, angered by this, separated them across the Milky Way. They were so sad that they could no longer see each other and cried every day. The god was so concerned about his daughter's condition that he allowed her to meet Hikoboshi on a single day of the year. Orihime and Hikoboshi worked hard in anticipation of their reunion, and crossed the Milky Way to meet on the night of July 7.
Because of this legend, July 7 is considered a special night in Japan when Orihime and Hikoboshi can meet across the Milky Way. It has also become popular as a time when wishes come true, in honor of the fact that the god allowed them to see each other for that day only.
The Famous Tanabata Festival in Japan
In addition to people putting up decorations, there are also festivals celebrating Tanabata in various regions.
The Sendai Tanabata Festival, held in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, is one of the most quintessential of these festivals. It is said to have been started by Date Masamune in the Edo period and has a history of more than 400 years.
Today, the festival is held over three days from August 6 to 8, centering on August 7, one month later than the modern-day July 7, in order to match the seasonal feeling of that of the lunar calendar’s July 7, which was when the event was actually held in ancient times. This festival is one of three major festivals in Tohoku and attracts more than 2 million people over the three days.
One of the highlights of the Sendai Tanabata Festival is the gorgeous decorations that are newly created each year. Each shopping district competes for the most splendid decorations, and gold, silver, and bronze awards are presented. Therefore, shopping districts that are early starters will all carefully make decorations by hand during the work week from around March, and the price of one piece is said to range from several hundred thousand to several million yen (several thousands to several tens of thousands of dollars).
There are seven Tanabata ornaments, each of which has the following meaning.
1. TANZAKU (paper strip)
Wish for improvement in studies and calligraphy. Today, they are decorated with wishes written on them for any sort of desire
2. KAMIGOROMO (paper kimono)
Wish for good luck against illness and misfortune, and for improvement in sewing
3. ORIZURU (paper crane)
Wish for family safety, health and longevity
4. KINCHAKU (purse)
Wish for prosperous business
5. TOAMI (catching net)
Wish for a good catch and a good harvest. It is also meant to bring good luck.
6. KUZUKAGO (waste basket)
Wish for cleanliness and thrift
7. FUKI NAGASHI (blowing streamer)
Wish for improvement in handicrafts and weaving. It symbolizes the thread of a good weaver.
Seven Tanabata Ornaments
(by SENDAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY)
Chiefly among them is the blowing streamer, which are customarily displayed in sets of five at the Sendai Tanabata Festival, so they are very powerful and eye-catching.
FUKI NAGASHI (blowing streamer)
(photographed by the author)
ORIZURU (paper cranes)
(photographed by the author)
Tanabata Festival in America
A little bit away from Japan, the Tanabata Festival is also being held in Los Angeles (Little Tokyo), U.S.A. This year, the festival will be held from August 10 to 18, 2024.
In particular, you can see gorgeous blowing streamers and large decorations influenced by the Sendai Tanabata Festival. Also, there seems to be a contest for Tanabata decorations similar to the Sendai Tanabata Festival, with prizes for the winners, so why don't you consider participating?
Access to Sendai Tanabata Festival
Returning our thoughts back to Japan, Sendai is only about 90 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen (High Speed Rail), and moreover, the shopping district where the festival is held is very accessible because it is right by where one gets off the train.
Since fireworks will be displayed on August 5, the day before the festival, it is recommended to arrive in Sendai in the evening before the festival begins.
If you are interested, why not make a visit?
Reference
Sendai Tanabata Festival Official Website
仙台七夕まつり - 伊達政宗公の時代より続く、日本一の七夕。 (sendaitanabata.com)
Los Angeles Tanabata Festival Committee
フェスティバル(カザリ展示) |ロサンゼルス七夕フェスティバル (tanabatalosangeles.com)
How to make Tanabata ornament（ロサンゼルス七夕フェスティバル）
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