The First Annual Tanabata Festival

The Japanese Friendship Garden (JFG) and Minatomo Japanese community(MJC) is proud to announce the inaugural Tanabata Festival! Originating from Chinese folklore, Tanabata is a holiday that celebrates the meeting of two deities that are separated by the Milky Way.

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The festival will continue to combine both cultural education with family fun by being host to various activity booths, delectable festival foods and tea, cultural performances and demonstrations, beer & sake, and opportunities to participate in popular Tanabata customs such as creating kazari – colorful decorations made to be hung on bamboo with different meanings such as good health and “catching” good fortune.

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Large fukinagashi kazari (streamer type decorations) from Sendai, Japan will be on display at JFG’s lower garden for guests’ viewing pleasure and will be able for “adoption”. JFG encourages individuals and organizations to become a kazari “host” to display the fukinagashi kazari outdoor after Tanabata Festival in hopes to create a traveling display of fukinagashi kazari to enhance community engagement and connect those with shared interests!

See you there!