Explore everyday life in Japan

Tanabata

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In Japan, July 7 is a day for wishing on a star. Two stars, in fact, the Vega and the Altair.

According to an old legend that was brought to Japan from China many, many years ago, two hardworking people, Orihime, a weaver and Hikoboshi, a cattle herder, fell deeply in love and wed. These two enjoyed their time together so much that they gradually began spending less and less time working and, instead, began spending more and more time with each other.

Orihime’s father, who was the creator of the universe, didn’t like the fact that his daughter and Hikoboshi were spending less and less time at work doing what they were supposed to be doing, so he punished them. He forced them to live separately and lay a river (the Milky Way) between them so that they wouldn’t be able to see each other. From that day on, the two lovers were only allowed to see each other for one day a year. That day is today, July 7.

Many people believe that if it rains on this day Orihime and Hikoboshi will have to wait another year to be together.

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A common paper decoration that represents the Milky Way

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Traditionally, this day, which is called Tanabata, was considered a day to wish for improvement in one’s weaving skills and handicraft abilities.

Later, during the Edo Period, this also became a time to wish for one’s handwriting and calligraphy skills to improve. These days, wishes are made for just about anything. Many children wish to become sports players or even TV action heroes. Junior high school students often wish to pass their high school entrance exams or to find boyfriends and girlfriends. Adults, if they make wishes, tend to wish for the health and happiness of their families or for better financial security.

Wishes are made by writing them down on colorful strips of paper about one inch wide and six inches long. These strips of paper are then hung on sprigs or branches of bamboo, which are often placed in the corners and entranceways of schools and the insides and outsides of houses. In many cases, children make pictures of the two star-crossed lovers at school and bring them home with a variety of colorful paper decorations and these are added to the bamboo sprigs in order to make them more colorful and festive.

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For lunch and sometimes dinner, many children are served food that is decorated with stars. And, of course, on this day many people hope that it doesn’t rain so that Orihime and Hikoboshi will finally be able to see each other for one day and be happy.

Fortunately, for the first time in as long as I can remember, it didn’t rain tonight where I live in Japan. This means that Orihime and the Hikoboshi were finally able to see each other.

Maybe this year, all of our wishes will come true.

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For another glimpse of Tanabata in Japan, please take a look at @kafkanarchy84’s post “Star-Crossed” Lovers on July 7th—The Tanabata Festival in Japan, and the Soul-refreshing Vlaue of a Play.

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Image Credits: All images in this post are original.

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This is an ongoing series that will explore various aspects of daily life in Japan. My hope is that this series will not only reveal to its followers, image by image, what Japan looks like, but that it will also inform its followers about unique Japanese items and various cultural and societal practices. If you are interested in getting regular updates about life in Japan, please consider following me at @boxcarblue. If you have any questions about life in Japan, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will do my best to answer all of your questions.

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If you missed my last post, you can find it here Festival Season.