Tanabata

Star Festival

Tanabata is based on the Chinese legend about the Weaving Goddess and a cowherd she came to love when she was visiting Earth. Her father didn't like this arrangement and so he separated them by placing them in different parts of Heaven. However, he had compassion and allowed them to see each other once a year on the 7th day of the 7th month. In Japan the idea of making wishes was added to the festival. Wishes are written on cards and hung on trees. The day after Tanabata the wishes are burned and the ashes float up to the gods in heaven.

Rinko Okano
Kodo Kyoden Temple, Yokohama