Tanabata Tanzaku: Making Wishes at Japan’s Star Festival
If you visit Japan in early July (or August in some regions), you will likely notice a vibrant transformation in train stations, shopping arcades, and shrines. Large bamboo branches appear, adorned with colorful paper streamers and small, rectangular strips of paper fluttering in the summer breeze. These paper strips are called tanzaku, and they are the heart of Tanabata, the Japanese Star Festival.
Tanabata is one of Japan’s five traditional seasonal festivals (gosekku), celebrated traditionally on the 7th day of the 7th month. While the decorations are visually stunning, the act of writing a wish on a tanzaku and tying it to a bamboo branch connects modern participants to a history spanning over a millennium, blending ancient folklore with hopes for the future.
The Origins of Tanabata
The roots of Tanabata can be traced back to the Chinese Qixi Festival, which was introduced to Japan during the Nara period (710–794 AD). Initially, it was an aristocratic event held at the Imperial Court, known as Kikkoden (The Festival to Plead for Skills). Courtiers would gaze at the stars, write poetry, and pray for improvements in calligraphy and craftsmanship.
Over centuries, these courtly traditions merged with indigenous Japanese beliefs related to weaving and agriculture. By the Edo period (1603–1867), the festival had spread from the aristocracy to the common people, evolving into the lively summer celebration seen today.
The Legend of Star-Crossed Lovers
At the core of the festival and the tanzaku tradition lies a romantic and somewhat melancholy celestial legend involving two stars: Vega and Altair.
According to the folklore, Orihime (the Weaver Princess, represented by the star Vega) was the daughter of the Tentei (Sky King). She was a diligent weaver who made beautiful clothes for her father near the bank of the Amanogawa (Milky Way). Because she worked so hard, she never had time for romance, which saddened her father. The Sky King arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi (the Cowherd, represented by the star Altair), who lived on the other side of the Milky Way.
The two fell instantly in love and married. However, their love was so all-consuming that they neglected their duties: Orihime stopped weaving, and Hikoboshi let his cows wander astray. Angered, the Sky King separated them, placing the vast Milky Way between them to prevent them from meeting.
Seeing his daughter’s despair, the Sky King relented slightly, allowing them to meet only once a year—on the 7th day of the 7th month—provided they worked hard the rest of the year. It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the river rises, and the lovers cannot meet, forcing them to wait another year. This is why people pray for clear skies on this night.
The Tradition of Tanzaku
While the giant paper streamers often seen in Sendai or Hiratsuka are famous, the tanzaku is the most personal element of the festival. Originally, people would write poems on leaves or paper to ask for better penmanship or weaving skills, honoring Orihime.
Today, tanzaku are used to wish for anything—good health, romance, passing exams, or family happiness. The bamboo is crucial to this ritual; bamboo grows straight and tall toward the heavens, acting as a conduit to carry wishes up to the stars.
The Five Colors
Traditionally, tanzaku come in five specific colors, rooted in the Chinese theory of the Five Elements (Wu Xing), which correspond to the five Confucian virtues:
- Green (or Blue): Represents Wood and the virtue of Benevolence.
- Red: Represents Fire and the virtue of Courtesy.
- Yellow: Represents Earth and the virtue of Trust.
- White: Represents Metal and the virtue of Justice.
- Black (or Purple): Represents Water and the virtue of Wisdom.
While modern tanzaku come in every hue imaginable, traditionalists still choose specific colors aligning with the nature of their wish.
Modern Culture and Celebrations
In modern Japan, Tanabata is a highly anticipated summer event. While the official date is July 7th, many regions celebrate in August to align with the traditional lunar calendar, offering a better chance of clear skies for stargazing.
The Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is the most famous celebration in Japan, held in August. The city is decorated with massive, intricate paper decorations that sweep the ground. However, you don’t need to go to a massive festival to participate. Supermarkets, schools, and hotel lobbies often set up bamboo branches in early July, inviting guests to write their wishes freely.
After the festival, the bamboo branches and wishes were traditionally floated down a river or burned as an offering (dondoyaki) to ensure the wishes reached the spirits. Today, due to environmental regulations, they are usually disposed of respectfully by shrines or the organizations hosting the display.
Traveler’s Tips
If you are visiting Japan in July, here is how you can participate in the tanzaku tradition:
- Locate a Display: Look for sasa (bamboo) displays in train stations, department stores, or shrines. Famous shrines like Zojoji in Tokyo often have stunning illuminations.
- Make a Wish: There is usually a table nearby with pens and paper strips. Pick a color that speaks to you.
- Attach Securely: Use the string attached to the paper to tie it to a branch. High or low doesn’t matter, but ensure it is tied well so the wind doesn’t carry it away too soon.
- Look Up: On the night of July 7th, try to spot Vega and Altair in the night sky and hope for clear weather so the lovers can reunite.
Sources & Further Reading
For those interested in the historical and literary roots of Tanabata and Japanese folklore, the following texts offer deeper insight:
- The Manyoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves): Japan’s oldest existing anthology of poetry contains numerous poems dedicated to the Tanabata legend, highlighting its establishment in Japanese culture as early as the Nara period.
- The Engishiki: A 10th-century book of laws and regulations which details court rituals, including the Festival of the Weaver.
- The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori Monogatari): While a different story, this folklore shares the celestial and bamboo motifs central to Japanese mythology.