Quinn

May 5th is a national holiday in Japan, named "Children's Day." Around these days, Koinobori, fish-shaped flags are raised up into the sky with a tall pole as high as twice much of an avarage houses. I don't remember I saw many of Koinobori when I was a kid. Where I grew up was suburban with rather condensed houses. Obviousely, not many people have the choice to raise the big Koinobori and the tall pole in their small yards.

I knew this day was actually "Boys' Day" even though it's called "Children's Day." A family with boys celebrate their kids health and growth on this day. I've learned a few things after moving to this small place in Kumamoto about this day and Koinobori. Koinobori is usually a gift for new born boys from grandparents, so I sometimes see Koinobori raised up in the houses where no kids living but remotely celebrating their grandkids, and probably in the case where they can't raise Koinobori in the kids' home. I also realized the people around here use for the pole is a tall skin-stripped cedar tree with only the tip of the tree is kept with leaves. I don't think I saw the tip of the pole like this at where I grew up, so it might be a regional thing. I'm not sure though.

We went a small farm-like theme park on the day. We got there late afternoon, looking foward to play around some, then the big dinner at their buffet restaurant. However, we found out that they are closing the park at 5pm and stop taking orders at 3:30 at the restaurant. Only for a short time, we played with their dogs then hurried for the early dinner. I took some photo of Koinobori while I was there, thinking of that I may blog about this day later ( and actually taking a half month to do so ). Well, I'll remember the next time we go there has to be in the morning!

Quinn's Photo [Zooomr]