Carp-shaped streamers, the May tradition of Japan
You can see these carp-shaped streamers (banners) from the end of April to the beginning of May. These are called Koinobori, which are colorful carp-shaped streamers that Japanese families put up to celebrate Children’s Day. By the way, Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi) is celebrated on May 5th in Japan. The black carp represents the father, and the red carp represents the mother. In the past, it was common to see carp streamers at homes with boys in particular, but they're rarely seen these days. Instead, some communities hold ‘Koinobori festivals’ where hundreds of carp streamers are displayed over rivers or in parks. At Nagahama City, Shiga Pref., Japan, about 250 Koinobori are displayed along the riverbank way. These carp streamers were donated by families whose children have grown up and no longer need to be displayed. While traditionally they were displayed outside houses and were hung on a tall pole, some urban families now use smaller Koinobori-set that can b...
