Tanabata



Nursing a bit of a hangover this morning after a night of sushi and Karaoke with some teachers from Ugui Elementary School. As usual, my being American led many of my co-workers to beleive that I knew the entire American Songbook and launched endless requests at me. After a couple drinks I usually try my hand at a song or two that sound vaguely familiar, which often means that I know the chorus and just have to wait around lamely through the verses. Last night was Billy Joel's 'Honesty'.

On July 7th the Japanese celebrate Tanabata, the Star Festival. Originating from Chinese myth, the stars Vega and Altair represent the weaver princess Orihime and the cowhearder Kengyu. According to one of many versions of the story, despite the large socio-economic divide between the two, the emperor allowed his daughter, Orihime, to marry the cowhearder. Their love was so strong that they abandoned their duties and for that were punished by being sent to opposite sides of the Milky Way, only able to meet once a year on July 7th, and then only if the skies are clear. Traditionally, people wrote small notes and tied them to bamboo leaves, asking the gods for clear skies so the couple could meet. Nowadays people write their own wishes on colorful pieces of paper and attach them to bamboo leaves. At school that day, students of every grade wrote their wishes and tied them on thndeir own decorated branch of bamboo. The wishes ranged from wanting to learn to swim, to a long life for their goldfish, to getting rich.

That night at Tomi's dojo, some friends and I made dinner together and afterwards wrote our wishes and tied them to a big branch of bamboo that Tomi got from the forest. The skies were mostly clear, but there were a few clouds, hopefully just providing some privacy for the lovers....

Posted: Sat - July 9, 2005 at 10:56 AM        

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