May 5th is a national holiday for children. Histrically, it was a day for boys (Tango no sekku = boys' festinal) and March 3rd was a day for girls(Hina Matsuri=Doll Festival), and we continue to this tradition today.

On this day, many families who have boys decorate their homes with warrior dolls or miniature helmets to inspire their boys to be strong and brave. They also puto carp streamers in their gardens. In Japan, carp are famous for fighting their way upstream and leaping waterfalls to get their spawning areas. Because of this, carp became a symbol of valiant efforts and and social success.
Carp streamers are made of paper or cloth. On the top of the pole, a small windmill turns amd colorful long tapes flutter in the wind. Under the tapes, usually there are three carp symbolizing father, mother and son. When you visit in Japan around this day, you can see carp streamers swim in the beautiful blue sky.

Iris leaves are another symbol of this day. In Japanese, Shoubu means both iris and military spirit(although the Chinese characters are different), and the shape of leaf is like a sword, iris leaves are used to decorate dolls of warrior. They are also added to the buth. The origin of this day probably comes from the times when people hunted and gathered medical herbs like iris leaves.

There are special food for this day. Kasiwa-mochi is a rice cake filled with sweet bean jam and wrapped in an oak leaf. Timaki is a sticky sweet cake wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Tokyo in May is full of fresh green and beauty. I hope you have