Japanese Tanabata Star Festival

In Japan the story is told of two lovers separated by a great river and only able to cross and meet but once a year. The couple are Orihime (the star Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair) and the river which separates them is the great Milky Way (called Amanogawa in Japanese). The day of meeting is the seventh day of the seventh month, when it is said that celestial magpies arrive to carry Orihime across the brilliant stream. However, if it is raining on this day then the magpies cannot come and Orihime and Hikoboshi must wait another year. July 7th is thus a festival day in Japan, when the story of the heavenly couple is retold and families prepare special festive displays made of bamboo boughs decorated with colorful paper ornaments and hung with paper strips bearing the family's prayers and wishes. A traditional poem sums up well the sentiment and atmosphere of Tanabata:

The bamboo leaves rustle, rustle
Shaking away in the eaves
The stars go twinkle, twinkle
Gold and silver grains of sand

In Japanese Romaji:

Sasa no ha sara-sara
Nokiba ni yureru
Ohoshi-sama kira-kira
Kingin sunago

Many communities in Japan will hold a special Tanabata festival where summertime revelers can stroll streets decorated with traditional and modern versions of the Tanabata displays. Food and game vendors make the festival a lively affair, and for some the Tanabata festival marks the start of the true summer season in Japan.

The festival Emily and I attended in this video took place in the seaside community of Shimizu located near Mt. Fuji. Emily and I had a terrific time though sadly Yumiko could not join us this evening. We returned home with toys, goldfish, full tummies and many happy stories to share with Yumiko and the grandparents.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• Japanese
• Tanabata
• star
• festival
• Orihime
• Vega
• Hikoboshi
• Altair
• Shimizu
• Tokaido
• Softypapa

[SMPsis]

Is the whole tanabata day a religious thing? I want to make sure so that there wont be any wrong messages sent out if I take part in it.

[softypapa]

@SMPsis　This festival likely has its origins in religion though for many it is quite secular in the way people perform and think of the ceremony. I hope that you are able to enjoy Tanabata festival for yourself. Thank you for watching and commenting! ~Kurt :-)

[yummeeceline]

emily looks especially pretty in the kimono! i love it when she teaches arts and crafts at the table :) i love how you filmed the festival, i've always wanted to see how a real festival would seem in japan!

[softypapa]

Hello yummeeceline, I hope that you will have a chance to visit and explore Japan yourself someday. Please let me know if you every have any questions about traveling and exploring in Japan. -Kurt :-)

[softypapa]

Hello ShinobiWolf2012, Thank you for your nice words. It was fun adding that little moonshot at the end. Emily and I saw the moon as we got off the train and I couldn't resist adding it in. -Kurt :-)

[tbone1143]

Great video Kurt, Emily had such a wonderful time at the festival. Her English is improving very well. She is a lovely girl, you are surely blessed.

5 stars for this one........ Doug :o)

[softypapa]

Hello Doug, This sure was a fun day and I am delighted that we could share it with you via YouTube. -Kurt :-)

[allgoo19]

There are lots of events for kids to keep them occupied.

How nice to grow up in Japan.

Has Emily learned how to make paper crane yet?

[CptEddyPrice]

she can read Kanji so fluently and I still can't :(

[MrJLJapan]

わたしは あなたの ビデオお あいして かんしゃの い です。

[MrJLJapan]

わたしは あなたの ビデオ お あいして かんしゃ の い です。

[Kaira66222]

This festival looks amazing and soooo beautiful!!! Someday i want to live in japan, the culture is just so interesting! ^_^ What a cute video. 

[CakeTaku]

Yatterman~

[narwhalwarhol]

Thank you so much! This video is great!

[wowpat449]

lol this is pound for pound, probably one of the sweetest videos i've ever seen.

[crazy4CoD1]

this is shit vid soooo gay

[KawaiiCanter127]

I love your videos

I love Japan and your videos make it so easy to learn about the culture.

[BladeOfForsaken]

DID SHE SURVIVE!! err i mean hope she suvived the earthquake