Eyes To The Skies: Tanabata Lands At Japan Society

A wish for world peace via.

In Japan, Tanabata, or the Star Festival, is a celebration of the meeting of two lovers blazing in the stars. Separated by the Milky Way, Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by Vega, the Weaver Star, and Altair, the Cowherd Star, respectively) are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month. On this day of heavenly miracles, people write wishes on colorful strips of paper and hang them on decorated bamboo trees.

On Sunday, July 11th, Japan Society invites children ages 2-10 to celebrate with the family program Japan's Star Festival: Create Tanabata Decorations. Educator and master storyteller Tara McGowan introduces a variety of fun and exciting folktales through kamishibai traditional Japanese storytelling. Tara discussed the power of the medium in a recent article about her work and kamishibai in general:

"Children can go off on wild directions and lose focus. The cards keep them structured within the story. There’s something very concrete about it, and it’s a wonderful way to get children to play with story elements."

In addition to telling Tanabata stories specific to the holiday, Tara pays homage to the stars with more celestial stories that are engaging and illuminating for the whole family.

Children and their parents can also take part in an assortment of craft activities, such as making traditional tanzaku (paper strips for writing wishes), paper stars, colorful paper chains, and more. Children can proudly display their handmade tanzaku and ornaments on bamboo trees at the Society.

For those who can’t make it to Japan Society, we've posted tanzaku instructions on our site About Japan: A Teacher’s Resource, so you can make them at home or wherever you are.

Have fun stargazing and may your wishes come true!

S.I.

You want to learn more about Japan?

I have a few ideas.

National Geographic has a great Japan Quiz on their website that's pretty informative. Do you know the last time Mount Fuji erupted? How about the average weight for top level sumo wrestlers or common Japanese hangover cures?

I only got 4 questions out of 10 correct, sad to say. Maybe if I went to the Scarsdale-based non-profit International Lifelong Education (formerly known as the Japan America Learning Center), I would have been more prepared. Reporter Stacy Smith recently featured the ILE in a heartfelt piece for Chopsticks NY. Here's a brief excerpt:

"When you are a child, the opportunity to learn Japanese and experience the culture is invaluable.  Young minds are highly malleable, and I would not be the person I am today if it wasn’t for my sensei’s revolutionary classroom style.  It was the cultural aspects of Japan, unusual to me at the time, which really intrigued me and made me want to stick with Japanese.  I flashed back to this time during a trip to the Scarsdale-based non-profit International Lifelong Education (I.L.E.), formerly known as the Japan America Learning Center. Along with a potpourri of other classes, Japanese is offered at this facility, and its cozy atmosphere and stellar Japanese staff make it ideal for those looking to study this language."

Unfortunately, some of us are no longer children. But some of us have matured onto bigger and better things (like teaching), in which case there are a few other fonts of Japanese knowledge to be visited.

About Japan is an online resource for teachers run by Japan Society's Education Program but really, it's a great learning tool for anyone--like they say, the best way to learn something is to teach it. I just love the range of topics they cover. You can watch survivors of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima discuss their experiences, paper cranes, and 9/11 and then right after, you can learn about canned whale meat.

Or for those of you who like your knowledge straight up on the rocks with no frills, there's Facts and Details: a comprehensive site with just that.

Japanese Medical System Overview

Here’s a great site, especially for anybody interested in Japan or thinking of moving there. About Japan is technically a teacher's resource but it is chock full of useful knowledge for anyone interested in historic and contemporary Japan. For example, there's a fantastic overview of the Japanese Medical System that includes helpful articles and updated facts.