オフィシャル
KOINOBORI swim in the sky of May
May is too late to see cherry blossoms, but it's one of the best times to visit Japan for traveling. The weather is mild - not too cold, not too hot, and not too humid. Flowers that have been waiting for spring bloom all at once, and young leaves are beautiful to behold. So, it's a great time to travel.
While strolling through town, you may notice colorful fish-shaped streamers decorated everywhere. They are "Koinobori", decorations displayed in late April and May.
What is KOINOBORI?
Koinobori, streamers adorned with carp patterns, are displayed to wish for the healthy growth of boys around May 5th, which is Boys' Festival, while girls are prayed for the healthy growth with Hina dolls around March 3rd, which is Girls' Festival. The custom started in the Edo period (1603-1867) among samurai families, then spread to ordinary families. Early carp streamers were made of Japanese paper, but later cloth was used, and today most are made of synthetic fibers for durability. Early Koinobori were made only of black carp, but in later years, red carp and then blue carp were added. The black carp represents the father, the red carp the mother, and the small carp the children; together they represent a family.
Koinobori at Hisamatsu elementary school and Hisamatsu kindergarten
Address: 7-2, Nihonbashi Hisamatsu-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Koinobori at Kakigaracho Park
Address: 10, Nihonbashi Kakigara-cho 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
How do Japanese children learn about seasonal events?
Japanese children learn about seasonal events through life in kindergarten and school. Kindergarten students make Koinobori using used wrapping paper or plastic bags. They learn Koinobori songs during music time. They grow up watching adults display Koinobori. Illustrations of Koinobori and other things featuring Koinobori, such as Japanese sweets, are everywhere, and perhaps they even appear naturally in Manga comics or animations. Children develop a sense of the season without even being aware of it. For adults, Koinobori herald the arrival of early summer and remind us of our childhood.
Koinobori at Hakozaki Park
Address: 18-18, Nihonbashi Hakozaki-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Big black Koinobori swim together with many small handmade Koinobori made by children
Koinobori at Tsukuda Park
Address: 11-4, Tsukuda 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Koinobori seen beyond azalea blossoms
Activities for Boys' Festival
In addition to the Koinobori story, I would like to introduce some activities for Boys' Festival.
We eat "Kashiwamochi" on this day. Kashiwamochi is a Japanese traditional sweet containing red bean paste wrapped in a leaf of Kashiwa (oak). The Kashiwa tree does not shed its leaves before new leaves grow, which is why the sweet wrapped in a Kashiwa leaf is considered a good omen for family continuity.
We also eat Chimaki. Chimaki is a kind of steamed rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves. Chimaki differs quite a bit between eastern and western Japan. In eastern Japan, rice itself is used, while in western Japan, rice flour is used as an ingredient.
We take a bath with iris leaves. The leaves of the iris are believed to be a medicinal herb that helps ward off evil. Regardless of the scientific effect, the custom remains widespread. If you happen to stay at a hot spring inn during this time of year, you may be lucky enough to have the opportunity to take an iris leaf bath.
Japanese traditional sweet “Kashiwamochi”
In closing
In addition to these customs, there must be various other customs for Boys' Festival all over Japan. I hope you enjoy discovering one of them and watching Koinobori swim in the sky of May.
Koinobori at Horidome Children's Center, adjacent to Horidome Children’s Park
Address: 1-16, Nihonbashi Horidome-cho 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo