 Most viewed - Sendai Tanabata Matsuri Festival 2009 仙台七夕まつり |
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).597 views
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You could write a wish on the paper and hang it on the bamboo branch. I wrote "Live long and prosper."312 views
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In the Shimin Hiroba was also this space.271 views
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Many girls (and kids) dressed in yukata (cotton kimono) came to see the Tanabata Festival. Her facial reaction was typical.261 views
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My YouTube video of Sendai Tanabata featuring the festival eve on Aug. 5, 2009 when they had fireworks and the morning of Aug. 6 when they were setting up the Tanabata decorations. 256 views
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Hip hop248 views
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The take-kazari bamboo decorations were marvelous. A myriad of designs and variety. Paper was the main material used to make all these decorations, unlike the predominant plastic found at other Tamabata Festivals in Japan.241 views
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On the morning of Aug. 6, the first day of Sendai Tanabata, shop owners started to set up their tanabata bamboo decorations from around 8 am to 9 am.237 views
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Tiny origami paper cranes. Guess how many paper cranes there are? Over 1 million.213 views
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My YouTube video of Sendai Tanabata featuring Tanabata decorations and seeing the evening entertainment (Awa Odori, Tanabata dancers, etc.) on Jozenji-dori during 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. 210 views
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This was my second time to see Sendai Tanabata. The first time was quite some time ago. I had high expectations, and I was not disappointed.204 views
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A short walk from Jozenji-dori is the Shimin Hiroba (Citizens' Square) where there was a stage for more entertaining performances by numerous groups. The program started at 6 pm and ended at 8:45 pm.191 views
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Inside Sendai Station's west side. A great greeting for visitors to Sendai during Tanabata Matsuri.162 views
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In Sendai, famous daimyo Date Masamune had the warrior and merchant classes observe the Star Festival. 161 views
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Eye-catching trio of yukata-clad girls.159 views
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This decoration had little owl-shaped paper balloons. These girls are blowing air into the balloons with a straw. Sendai Tanabata.154 views
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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. 152 views
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Many of the Tanabata streamers are quite commercial, with sponsors prominently displayed on the streamers.139 views
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The yukata has become quite modern. You no longer have to put your hair up when wearing one.136 views
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It's nearly impossible to define or describe an outstanding decoration, but you know it when you see it.135 views
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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.134 views
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On Aug. 4, two days before the start of Tanabata Festival, the shopping arcades already had these bamboo poles with ropes set up.133 views
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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). 132 views
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The pedestrian overpass connected to Sendai Station is also decorated.128 views
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Attaching the ball to the body of the decoration.127 views
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People who wear yukata know how to enjoy each of Japan's seasons.127 views
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Korean performers.125 views
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Bottom of the paper cranes.124 views
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This is the Hapina Nakakecho arcade. "Hapina" stands for "Heartful Amenity Place Interfaced Natural Arcade." It also refers to "happy." When the Japanese create a new name, they love puns.122 views
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These people are spreading the wings of the origami cranes.122 views
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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.118 views
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Sendai Tanabata Fireworks on Aug. 5, 7:30 pm to 9 pm. It was impressive. The theme was "Ring of Love."118 views
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Pieces of bamboo hung from the ropes on bamboo poles.117 views
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Nishi Park in Sendai is full of people on fireworks night.117 views
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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.116 views
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Local cheerleaders included these kids.116 views
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Tanabata decorations outside S-PAL, a shopping complex next to Sendai Station.116 views
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Inside Sendai Station is a large information booth where you can obtain maps and pamphlets of Sendai and Tanabata Matsuri.116 views
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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.115 views
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Tanabata decorations at the entrance of Sendai Station.115 views
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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.114 views
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Setting up Tanabata bamboo decorations.114 views
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It rained sometimes during the Tanabata Festival since the Tohoku region was still in the rainy season.113 views
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Tanabata Matsuri is held in many parts of Japan, usually in shopping arcades to draw customers. The more famous ones are in Hiratsuka in Kanagawa and Asagaya in Tokyo.113 views
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Female lover in heaven112 views
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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.) 111 views
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Origami paper cranes is actually one type of Tanabata decorations. Many decorations had paper cranes as you can see here.111 views
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One bamboo pole has several decorations and each one hangs on a rope.111 views
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Kids loved to jump and try to touch the streamers.111 views
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This is Sun Mall Ichibancho. This Ichibancho-dori road is also straight, but consists of three seamless shopping arcades: Sun Mall Ichibancho, Brand Dome Ichibancho, and Ichibancho Yon-chome.111 views
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Organizations who made the 1 million+ paper cranes. About 25,000 people from all over Japan from age 5 to 103 made over 1 million paper cranes. That's an average of 40 cranes per person.111 views
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These decorations cannot be massed produced, all one of a kind.110 views
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The streamers can also be quite hypnotizing if not captivating.110 views
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During the morning of Aug. 6 the first day, a team of judges wearing a white cap and yellow shirt proceed through the decorations for judging. Dressed in pink is the back is one of the three Sendai Goodwill Ambassadors (not Miss Tanabata).109 views
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The crowd take pictures in front of this Outstanding Award decoration.108 views
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You can see Tanabata in various locations (smaller scale) in Japan such as Hiratsuka in Kanagawa held around July 7 and Asagaya and Fussa in Tokyo around Aug. 7.108 views
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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.107 views
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This road was filled with people as well for the fireworks.107 views
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By 10 am on the first day of Aug. 6, most all of the Tanabata decorations were set up. Large crowds soon followed.107 views
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After the festival ends, many of these decorations are discarded. But some are donated to a shopping arcade in Fukuoka (Kyushu). 107 views
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Write your wish on a paper tag and affix it to the bamboo branch.107 views
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Hoisting up the bamboo support pole.107 views
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Origami paper cranes.106 views
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People were amazed at these cranes. This is one type of streamer you won't see at other Tanabata Festivals in Japan.106 views
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Gold Award + Outstanding Award.106 views
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Interview by local TV.105 views
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The decorations are given awards such as the Gold and Silver Awards. The winners are announced later in the day, and the winning decorations are tagged with the awards. This is the Gold Award.105 views
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This large tanabata bamboo was being set up on Aug. 4.105 views
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Silver Award. Besides awards for individual decorations, awards are given to the shopping arcade as a whole for the bext decorations.104 views
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It says "No More Hiroshima."104 views
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Sendai's shopping arcades were obviously designed for tanabata decorations. There are eyelets or hooks for ropes on the ceiling.103 views
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Kids writing their wishes.103 views
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Peace message.103 views
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Another crowd favorite was these streamers made of tiny origami paper cranes. 103 views
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Fujisaki's decoration is at the T-intersection between Chuo-dori and Ichibancho-dori.103 views
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Closeups of one of the best take-kazari of 2009.103 views
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Hapina arcade102 views
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Attaching ropes. The decorations will later be attached to these ropes.102 views
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Perhaps she wished for a rich husband.102 views
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On the evening of Aug. 5, the Tanabata Festival Eve, a fireworks display is held at Nishi Koen Park. Here are many girls in yukata waiting for friends at Sendai Station to see the fireworks.102 views
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No smoking in the shopping arcades.101 views
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This was the 34th Tanabata Decoration of Peace. Aug. 6, the first day of the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, also happens to be the anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.101 views
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The decorations usually arrive in huge plastic bags, especially the outdoor ones. This is the Fujisaki decoration.101 views
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The walls also have eyelets/hooks for ropes to support the bamboo poles.100 views
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Male lover in heaven100 views
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When the decorations are unpacked or unraveled, they are freshened up. 100 views
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Date Masamune99 views
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Types of tanabata decorations.99 views
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Extravagant Award99 views
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Marble Road Omachi97 views
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In Sun Mall Ichibancho, a traditional kami-shibai picture card story was told.97 views
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Drilling97 views
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Tanabata appeals to all ages, from little kids to grandmothers.97 views
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Many decorations are really advertisements. But others have no ads and they are splendid. Keep in mind that the Tanabata Festival was started by local merchants, so it has commercial roots. It's not a religious event.97 views
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This one was clearly a crowd favorite, and not surprisingly, it won the Outstanding Award.97 views
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Regular-size paper cranes.95 views
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Bottom view95 views
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Travel photos (Matsushima)95 views
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Tokushima Awa Odori dancers at Sendai Tanabata Matsuri Festival.94 views
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Puppets92 views
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Ichiban-cho Yon-chome arcade is outdoors.92 views
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Sun Mall92 views
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Where I was, Tokushima Awa Odori dancers performed first.91 views
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Koi fish made of tiny balls stuck onto the paper.91 views
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There is no longer a Tanabata Parade in the evening. Instead of a parade, there are various performances at several areas on the main street of Jozenji-dori during 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm every evening during Aug. 6-8.91 views
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Also here is a cramped enclave of many little bars and shops.91 views
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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.90 views
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At night.90 views
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North Korean abductee, Megumi90 views
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Milky Way streamers decorated the road.90 views
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Calligraphy brushes even.90 views
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International decoration89 views
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Later in the morning at around 9 am, these decorations will be hung normally again.89 views
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Back to Hapina arcade89 views
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At around 9 pm, the tanabata decorations are put in plastic bags or hung high so drunkards cannot reach and damage them.88 views
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Local cheerleaders87 views
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Sun Mall Ichibancho86 views
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In the early morning, the tanabata decorations still hang high up. 85 views
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Matsushima photos85 views
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Photos of sushi on a sushi shop's decoration.84 views
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I like these American-style costumes.84 views
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There was also a ballet play featuring the herdsman and weaver who meet in the heavens on July 7.82 views
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Different performances are given every evening during the Tanabata Matsuri. If you want good seats, go there early. Otherwise, it's standing room only.82 views
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Folk dancers for Tanabata Odori82 views
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Slinky82 views
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Taiko drummers81 views
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Hip hop81 views
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International decoration81 views
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More performers.81 views
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Local cheerleaders were great.80 views
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The herdsman and weaver meet in the Milky Way.78 views
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A few local high school bands also played.78 views
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Taiko drummers77 views
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This was the main performance area on Jozenji-dori.77 views
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The Orihime weaver.76 views
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