During July and August in Japan, everyone dons their favorite Yukatas, expands their bellies, and gears up for Matsuri (festival) Season!
Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival
Tanabata ("Evening of the Seventh") is a Star Festival held every year on July 7th as this day is the 7th day of the 7th lunar month of the old lunisolar calendar. The festival continues for 4 days concluding in a parade on the July 10th. The Tanabata Matsuri held in Hiratsuka is one of the larger festivals, with close to 2 million people traveling to attend each year. Attendees wander through 3 main streets and 6 minor streets outside the station eating and drinking in a labyrinth full of merriment.
The folk lore behind Tanabata dates back 2,000 years ago to a Chinese tale of a prince and princess represented by two stars: Once there was a weaver princess name Orihime (Vega) that lived in space and spent all of her time playing with a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi (Altair). The neglect of their jobs infuriated the king who separated them on either side of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way). The king only allowed them to see each other on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. It is believed that the two stars cannot see each other if it is rainy, so festival attendees pray for clear weather.
We had a wonderful Sunday afternoon of eating and celebrating with our friends.
The street decorations were vibrant and intricate. You can rent a Tanabata bamboo pole (on which the decorations hang) for 100,000 yen (roughly $1,300). Prizes are awarded for the decorations - with different winners for both day and night - which helps winners offset their rental fee. Renters begin working on their decorations months in advance. Many are sponsored by local businesses. Those more intricately designed have moving figurines. Some of the 2,000 decorations remain the same each year and tell stores from the Shonan period. These support a local soccer team.
Tanabata was imported in 755 from the Chinese Festival to Plead for Better Skills. Today, it is tradition to mix the ancient Chinese festival with Tanabata. The pictures below show the five different colored sheets of paper used for writing wishes. Historically, girls wished for better sewing skills and boys wished for better hand writing.
Even Colonel Sanders is dressed for the occasion!
Yukatas
Casual Summer Kimono
Hello Kitty Jinbei
The dog is wearing a Yukata!
Scandalous Yukatas
1. Short!
2. Off the Shoulders!
Rebekah and Andy (not pictured) were our tour guides for the day. They were also our sponsors for our move.
Food
Roughly 2,000 food stalls line the streets.
Fried Baked Potatoes
Step 1. Steam - each layer is filled with potatoes
Step 2. Batter
Step 3. Fry
Step 4. Cut
Step 5. BUTTER
Step 6. Enjoy
Chocolate Covered Bananas
Okonomiyaki - Japanese Savoury Pancake
Cabbage
(Shredding the Cabbage)
Yakisoba - fried noodles
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Fruit Drinks
Grilled Chicken Skin
Yakitori - grilled meat (typically chicken) on a Stick
Battered Chicken
Grilled Ayu - fresh water fish
Kabobs
Food Stalls
Enjoying the Food
Rebekah and Andy (our sponsors)
Bryce and Claire
The Japanese wanted pictures with Rebekah in her Yukata
The Tanabata ornaments and decorations are held up by bamboo poles 3 meters long.
Festival season is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the year. We look forward to sharing more festivals with you in the near future!
