Tanabata(七夕) in 🇯🇵 Japan

Tanabata, the Star Festival, is celebrated on July 7 in most of Japan, though some regions observe it on August 7 based on the traditional lunar calendar. The festival originates from the Chinese legend of Qixi, telling the story of two star-crossed lovers, Orihime (the star Vega) and Hikoboshi (the star Altair), who are separated by the Milky Way and permitted to meet only once a year on this night.

The most distinctive Tanabata tradition is the writing of wishes on tanzaku, small strips of colored paper, which are hung on bamboo branches along with other paper decorations. The five traditional colors of tanzaku, blue, red, yellow, white, and purple, each correspond to different types of wishes. Children and adults alike write their hopes and dreams, from passing exams and finding love to world peace and personal growth. The decorated bamboo branches are displayed at homes, shopping streets, and temples.

The Sendai Tanabata Festival in Miyagi Prefecture is the most famous and elaborate celebration, held August 6-8 using the lunar calendar date. The city's shopping arcades are transformed by thousands of enormous streamers made of washi paper and silk, each handcrafted over months by local businesses and community groups. The seven traditional Sendai Tanabata decorations, including paper cranes for longevity and nets for good fishing catches, each carry specific symbolic meanings.

Other notable Tanabata celebrations include the Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival, which features large, colorful decorations and a lively street fair, and Osaka's Tanabata Festival along the river, where floating lanterns create a romantic atmosphere. Traditional Tanabata foods include somen noodles, whose thin white strands are said to resemble the threads woven by Orihime. Many Japanese couples treat Tanabata as a romantic holiday, exchanging small gifts and spending the evening star-gazing.

Japanese star festival celebrating the annual meeting of deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, observed by writing wishes on colorful paper strips (tanzaku) tied to bamboo branches on July 7.