- \n
- What is Children’s Day?<\/a><\/li>\n
- Decorations\u2014Carp Streamers, Samurai Helmets, Samurai Dolls<\/a><\/li>\n
- Children’s Day in Osaka\u2014Akuta River, Kaiyukan, Matchamachi<\/a><\/li>\n
- Traditional Sweets\u2014Kashiwamochi, Chimaki<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What is Children’s Day?<\/h2>\n
May 5 is Children’s Day, aka Kodomo no Hi, in Japan. It’s a national holiday, that falls towards the end of Golden Week, a long holiday when schools and businesses are closed for approximately one week. Children’s Day has a long history, presumaby dating back to the reign of Empress Suiko (593-628 CE). In recent centuries it was considered a day to celebrate young boys and pray for their good health and strength, a counterpart to the March holiday Girls’ Day<\/a>. But in 1948 the name was changed and it became a national holiday, celebrating all children while praying for their good health and happiness.<\/p>\n
![\"Calendar](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/04\/childrens-day-img06.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDecorations\u2014Carp Streamers, Samurai Helmets, Samurai Dolls<\/h2>\n
Encouraging children to grow up strong and healthy is a major part of Children’s Day. Traditional decorations and customs reflect this ideal.<\/p>\n
Koinobori\u00a0<\/em> (carp streamers) are large wind socks that are painted to look like fish flying through the sky. Carp swimming upstream are a symbol of strength, likely introduced to Japan through Chinese folklore. And so in the days and weeks leading up to Children’s Day, carp streamers are hung from the rooftops and balconies of Japanese houses where children live. They may also bee seen at parks, temples, and public buildings adding color and a little surrealism to the sky.<\/p>\n
![\"carp](\"https:\/\/maido-storage.oss-cn-hongkong.aliyuncs.com\/maido\/uploads\/2021\/04\/childrens-day-img05.jpg\")
<\/h2>\nThere is even a special children’s song about carp streamers that was composed in the early twentieth century and has been taught to generations of school children ever since. If you listen closely, you’ll hear it pouring out of music classroom windows in the days and weeks leading up to May 5.<\/p>\n
\u3084\u306d\u3088\u308a\u305f\u304b\u3044\u3053\u3044\u306e\u307c\u308a
\n\u304a\u304a\u304d\u3044\u307e\u3054\u3044\u306f\u304a\u3068\u3046\u3055\u3093
\n\u3061\u3044\u3055\u3044\u3072\u3054\u3044\u306f\u3053\u3069\u3082\u305f\u3061
\n\u304a\u3082\u3057\u308d\u305d\u3046\u306b\u304a\u3088\u3044\u3067\u308b<\/p>\n(Romanized lyrics)
\nYane yori takai koinobori
\nOokii magoi wa otoosan
\nChiisai higoi wa kodomo tachi
\nOmoshirosoo ni oyoideru<\/p>\n(Translation)
\nCarp streamers are higher than the roof
\nThe biggest carp is the father
\nThe small carp are his children
\nSwimming joyfully<\/p>\n - Decorations\u2014Carp Streamers, Samurai Helmets, Samurai Dolls<\/a><\/li>\n