Sendai-Tanabata-Matsuri(仙台七夕まつり)

Sendai-Tanabata is the largest tanabata festival in Japan.

Open 6th.Aug – 8th.Aug
Origin Early 18th century (the Edo period)
Optional info Usually tanabata is held on July. It’s because of old lunar calendar.
Site Main area in Sendai city.

About Tanabata(七夕)

Tanabata is to celebrate the meeting of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair) with tanabata-kazari(七夕飾り).Tanabata-kazari is decorative bamboo with tanzaku(短冊), a colorful paper. People write down their desire in it.By the legend of Tanabata, when the Milky Way separates vega and Altair, and those lovers can meet just once a year on 7th of 7th month in old lunar calendar.
Caution : Tanabata is usually held on 7th of July.But Sendai-Tanabata is held in August.

Sendai-Tanabata

Sendai-Tanabata is the largest tanabata festival in Japan. More than 3,000 tanabata-kazari is displayed in central Sendai. About 2 million visitors comes to watch this festival.  Its gorgeous tanabata-kazari is exported to other cities or companies.

Seven types of decoration items for tanabata-kazari in Sendai-Tanabata.

  1. Tanzaku(短冊) :For improving scholarship and writing skill.
  2. Kamikoromo/Kamikinu(紙衣) : For put substitution for illness or disaster. Or for improving needlework skill.
  3. Oriduru(折鶴) : To pray for longevity.
  4. Kinchaku(巾着) : To pray for prosperity.
  5. Toami(投網) : For a big catch of seafood.
  6. Kuzukago(くずかご) : To pray for cleanliness and economy.
  7. Fukinagashi(吹き流し) : The symbol of Orihime’s(織姫) weaving yarn.

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