Stars in my eyes...
Our recent weather may be gray, dull and dreary but the skies are anything but...as it's Tanabata time! Between July 7 and August 7 streets throughout Japan are decorated with these streamers:
Not only are they bright and cheerful, but they make a soothing rustling sound in the breeze too!
"Sasa no ha sara sara
Nokiba ni yureru
Ohoshi sama kira kira
Kin gin sunago"
Businesses sponsor them...the yellow one below is sponsored by Ito-Yokado, one of the largest supermarkets in Japan and, incidentally, the owner of 7-11!
"The bamboo leaves, rustle, rustle
shaking away in the eaves.
The stars go twinkle, twinkle;
Gold and silver grains of sand."
The shot below gives you an idea of the extent of the decorations:
The story behind Tanabata is actually rather romantic...
Two lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, were separated from each other and can only meet each other once a year...on Tanabata when the Milky Way allows them to cross the skies to each other...but only if the sky is clear on July 7th!
Given that July 7th is in the middle of tsuyu - the rainy season - it seems doubtful that they'll ever be able to meet!
(Photos taken around the streets near our house)
Not only are they bright and cheerful, but they make a soothing rustling sound in the breeze too!
"Sasa no ha sara sara
Nokiba ni yureru
Ohoshi sama kira kira
Kin gin sunago"
Businesses sponsor them...the yellow one below is sponsored by Ito-Yokado, one of the largest supermarkets in Japan and, incidentally, the owner of 7-11!
"The bamboo leaves, rustle, rustle
shaking away in the eaves.
The stars go twinkle, twinkle;
Gold and silver grains of sand."
The shot below gives you an idea of the extent of the decorations:
The story behind Tanabata is actually rather romantic...
Two lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, were separated from each other and can only meet each other once a year...on Tanabata when the Milky Way allows them to cross the skies to each other...but only if the sky is clear on July 7th!
Given that July 7th is in the middle of tsuyu - the rainy season - it seems doubtful that they'll ever be able to meet!
(Photos taken around the streets near our house)
Labels: culture, Japan, life, rainy season, Tanabata, Tokyo, tsuyu
posted by verniciousknids @ 10:49 pm
12 Comments:
At 11:04 pm,
Carli N. Wendell said…
I wish I could look out my window and see that. . . instead, it's just a bunch of people waiting to buy mozzarella.
Michele sent me!
At 11:26 pm,
Florence Forrest said…
Thanks for dropping by my blog. I thought I would track back and say hi. I hope Orihime and Hikoboshi get to meet this season, very romantic. Golden sand on the river of heaven - twinkling, twinkling.
At 12:01 am,
RennyBA said…
Thanks for your visit on my blog and thanks so much for sharing this romantic Tanabata.
It's summer season in Norway right now and that can be quite romantic too - the land of the midnight sun you know:-)
At 3:46 am,
Elsa said…
So colorful, pretty and "happy". Me likey :)
At 4:01 am,
Bearette said…
how cute! i hope they get to meet soon...
At 11:31 am,
www.stepherz.com said…
They are beautiful!
At 1:00 pm,
Caro said…
They look a bit like pinatas.
Very festive.
At 6:34 am,
My float said…
wow, do they light up at night? they look beautiful!
At 3:06 am,
Anonymous said…
That is such a sweet story and beautiful pictures :-)
At 1:57 pm,
verniciousknids said…
Carli: I'd like to see a picture of that!
Florence: I guess they just have to keep believing...thanks for visiting!
Rennyba: Your photos make Norway look very romantic...thanks for stopping by!
Bearette: Me too! It's a rather poignant metaphor for life though :)
Stepherz: Not as beautiful as Noah...but thanks!
Carolyn: You've put an evil idea into my head...I envisage giant sticks and...if I'm arrested, I'm blaming you ;)
MF: I wish they did, you can still see them at night though because of all the street lights :D
Helen: The streets are decorated differently for each season!
Antonia: It is a lovely story, isn't it?
At 11:35 pm,
Anonymous said…
Those look so cheery! :)
At 11:17 am,
verniciousknids said…
Pearl: They do, don't they? Nothing like bright colours to cheer you up!
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