 Last additions - MIYAGI 宮城県 |
The shopping arcades on the west side of Sendai Station is where the Tanabata decorations are. The main arcades where you can see the streamers are basically on two arcade roads: Chuo-dori and Ichibancho-dori. They intersect at a T-intersection.Aug 11, 2009
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Sendai's shopping arcades were obviously designed for tanabata decorations. There are eyelets or hooks for ropes on the ceiling.Aug 11, 2009
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Origami paper cranes.Aug 11, 2009
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The Chuo-dori arcade is about 750 meters long. Although this arcade is a straight and continuous road, it is actually consists of three seamless arcades named Hapina Nakakecho (ハピナ名掛丁), Clis Road, and Marble Road Omachi.Aug 11, 2009
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There was also a ballet play featuring the herdsman and weaver who meet in the heavens on July 7.Aug 11, 2009
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Taiko drummersAug 11, 2009
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The decorations can cost thousands of dollars or even tens of thousands of dollars (US$). (Hundreds of thousands of yen or a few million yen.) Aug 11, 2009
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PuppetsAug 11, 2009
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The yukata has become quite modern. You no longer have to put your hair up when wearing one.Aug 11, 2009
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Eye-catching trio of yukata-clad girls.Aug 11, 2009
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For people outside Japan wanting to make tanabata decorations for a Japan event, let these photos give you some design ideas.Aug 11, 2009
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Aug 11, 2009
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Regular-size paper cranes.Aug 11, 2009
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According to the legend, the original date of Tanabata is July 7 according to the lunar calendar which is about a month behind the calendar we use today. Some places hold the festival on July 7 to match the original, numeric date.Aug 11, 2009
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Inside Sendai Station's west side. A great greeting for visitors to Sendai during Tanabata Matsuri.Aug 11, 2009
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During the Tohoku Industrial Expo in 1928, the forerunner of today's Tanabata Festival was held. Sendai merchants strived to uphold the tradition, resulting in today's elaborate and gaudy Tanabata decorations.Aug 11, 2009
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In Sendai, famous daimyo Date Masamune had the warrior and merchant classes observe the Star Festival. Aug 11, 2009
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This angered her father who banished the herdsman to the other side of the Milky Way. He allowed the two to meet only once a year on the evening of the seventh day of the seventh month (according to the lunar calendar). Aug 11, 2009
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The weaver is represented by the Vega star and the herdsman by the Altair star. As a prayer to produce better arts and crafts, the Imperial Court and the warrior class paid homage to these two stars from ancient times. This practice spread to the masses.Aug 11, 2009
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The festival is said to have originated from a Star Festival in China. According to Chinese legend, east of the Milky Way there was a Heavenly King whose daughter worked as a weaver. However, when she married a herdsman, she quit weaving. Aug 11, 2009
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Held annually during Aug. 6-8, the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is Japan's largest, grandest, and most famous Tanabata Festival. Commonly called the Star Festival, Tanabata Matsuri features large colorful, streamer decorations (called take-kazari).Aug 11, 2009
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I arrived in Sendai on Aug. 4, 2009, two days before the festival, and Sendai Station here was already decorated with these huge tanabata streamers. Very impressive.Aug 11, 2009
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Many of the Tanabata streamers are quite commercial, with sponsors prominently displayed on the streamers.Aug 11, 2009
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