Arisunime — The origins of Tanabata can be traced back to the Chinese Qixi Festival, which was introduced to Japan during the Nara Period (710-794 AD). The festival is centered around the romantic and tragic legend of Orihime, the Weaver Princess (represented by the star Vega), and Hikoboshi, the Cowherd (represented by the star Altair).
According to the tale, Orihime was the daughter of the Sky King, Tentei. She was a diligent weaver, creating beautiful fabrics for the gods along the banks of the celestial river, the Amanogawa (天の川, the Milky Way). Saddened by his daughter’s ceaseless work and her resulting loneliness, Tentei arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi, a hardworking cowherd who lived on the opposite side of the river.
The two fell instantly and deeply in love. Their devotion to each other was so all-consuming that they began to neglect their duties. Orihime’s loom sat untouched, and Hikoboshi’s cows wandered astray across the heavens. Angered by this, Tentei separated the lovers, placing them on opposite sides of the vast Milky Way as punishment.
Heartbroken, Orihime pleaded with her father. Moved by her tears, Tentei eventually relented, allowing them to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month. It is said that on this night, a flock of magpies forms a bridge across the Milky Way, allowing the star-crossed lovers to reunite. However, if it rains on Tanabata, the river becomes too flooded for the magpies to form a bridge, and Orihime and Hikoboshi must wait another year to be together.
Celebrating Tanabata: Wishes, Decorations, and Festivities
Tanabata is celebrated on July 7th in many parts of Japan, following the Gregorian calendar. However, in some regions, it is celebrated in August, closer to the traditional seventh day of the seventh lunar month. The celebrations are marked by a variety of colorful customs and lively festivities.
The most iconic tradition of Tanabata is the writing of wishes on small, colorful strips of paper called tanzaku (短冊). People of all ages write their hopes and dreams—ranging from success in school and relationships to good health and world peace—on these papers and hang them on bamboo branches. The bamboo, with its tall, straight stalks reaching towards the sky, is believed to carry these wishes to the heavens.
Elaborate decorations adorn homes, schools, shopping arcades, and public spaces. Besides the tanzaku, several other types of paper decorations, known as nanatsu-kazari (seven decorations), each hold a special meaning:
- Fukinagashi (吹き流し): Colorful streamers that represent the threads of Orihime’s weaving and symbolize longevity.
- Kinchaku (巾着): A purse-shaped ornament to wish for wealth and prosperity.
- Toami (投網): A net-like decoration that symbolizes good fortune in fishing and harvests.
- Orizuru (折り鶴): Strings of folded paper cranes for longevity and good health.
- Kamigoromo (紙衣): Paper kimono to ward off illness and accidents.
- Kuzukago (屑籠): A paper trash bag, symbolizing cleanliness and the wish to be thrifty.
While there are no specific dishes exclusively for Tanabata, the festival is often associated with summer foods. A popular choice is sōmen, thin white noodles that are often enjoyed cold with a dipping sauce. Their long, flowing strands are sometimes said to resemble the Milky Way or Orihime’s weaving threads. During festival events, it is also common to find food stalls selling a variety of street food like takoyaki (octopus balls), yakisoba (fried noodles), and yakitori (grilled chicken skewers).
Major Tanabata festivals are held throughout Japan, with some of the most famous taking place in Sendai and Hiratsuka. These cities host massive celebrations featuring enormous, breathtaking streamer displays that create canopies of color over shopping arcades and streets, attracting millions of visitors.
Tanabata is a beautiful fusion of a poignant love story, hopeful wishes, and vibrant community celebration. It is a time when people look to the summer night sky, think of the celestial lovers, and dare to dream, hoping that their own wishes will take flight and come true.***