The 7th of July is Tanabata, the Star Festival. It is an important traditional event in Japan.

In Japan, Tanabata is a traditional event.

Tanabata is the night of the 7th of July when Orihime and Hikoboshi cross the Milky Way and meet only once a year.

The story of Tanabata is based on an ancient Chinese folklore.
Incidentally, it is also said to exist in Korea and Vietnam.

It is said that Orihime was a good weaver and a hard worker, which led to the custom of wishing for improvement in handicrafts and sewing.
It is said to be the original form of “When you wish upon a star”.

The story of Orihime and Hikoboshi

Orihime was a hard-working woman who excelled at weaving.
Hikoboshi, the cowherd, was also a hard-working man.

Orihime was the daughter of the emperor (God). The emperor brought them together, and they fell in love at first sight.

They fell in love at first sight and got married, but once they were married, they spent all their time playing and did not work.

The emperor became angry and separated them from each other on both sides of the Milky Way.

The story goes that Orihime cried to her father and begged him to allow them to meet only once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month.

By the way, Orihime is Vega of the constellation Koto.

And Hikoboshi is Altair in the constellation of Sagittarius.

Both are bright stars of the first magnitude.

Together with Deneb in the constellation Cygnus, they form what is known as the ‘Summer Triangle’.

It is visible in the lower part of the eastern sky between 8pm and 10pm.

Tanabata decorations

People write their wishes on colourful strips of paper and attach them to bamboo branches.

In Japan, Tanabata is not a holiday, but it is an important traditional event.

We hope it will be clear this evening.

I hope it will be sunny this evening, as the rainy season has not ended yet in most parts of Japan.