Japanese philanthropist Haruhisa Handa, who is a professional in many fields, including calligraphy, art, music, noh dramas and literature, as well as busi
HIGASHI-IZU, Shizuoka Prefecture Marking its 25th anniversary, the Hina no Tsurushi Kazari Matsuri festival here is welcoming visitors to its colorful displays of dolls and ornaments suspended from ceilings until March 31.
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Once spring hits, they’re nearly everywhere. Visitors to Japan will find long strands of fish flags hanging from balconies, strung up in public spaces, and even hoisted up in front of businesses. So, ah, what’s up with all of these fish flags?
Well, what’s up is Children’s Day,
Kodomo no Hi, a public holiday celebrated each year on the 5
th of May. And the Japanese fish flags? They’re called
Koinobori. Intended to resemble carp, they’re a hallmark of the holiday.
The Origins of Children’s Day
Celebrating the double fifth the fifth day of the fifth month traces its origins to ancient China. However, Japan has been throwing its own double-fifth celebrations for hundreds and hundreds of years. In Japan, the holiday was originally known as