May 5th is Children’s Day in Japan! It’s a time to celebrate children’s growth and wish for their healthy development. The icons of this special day are the colorful koinobori (carp streamers) and samurai dolls, as well as the delicious kashiwa mochi rice cakes. Seeing the huge koinobori streamers fluttering majestically against a bright blue sky is a breathtaking sight.

Celebrate Children’s Day with this collection of illustrations.

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Golden Week is almost over in Japan, but before it ends, there’s one last national holiday to celebrate: Children’s Day! Kodomo no hi, also known as Children’s Day or traditionally Tango no Sekku, is celebrated on the 5th of May each year. On this day, families fly carp-shaped windsocks called koinobori (鯉のぼり, lit. “carp streamers”) in honor of children and to celebrate their happiness. Koinobori are commonly flown above the roofs of households with children, with the largest carp in black representing the father, the red and second biggest carp the mother, and additional smaller carps of different colors the children, from eldest to youngest.

And of course, we can’t forget the food! Families also eat kashiwa mochi (sticky rice cakes filled with red bean paste wrapped in oak leaves) and chimaki (sticky rice wrapped in an iris or bamboo leaf) for good luck in the hopes that they’ll grow up healthy and strong.

Do you have any similar traditions in your culture? If you have any children or youngsters in your life, we hope you have a wonderful day with them today!

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Did you know that in Japan, May 5th is Children's Day? It's a day dedicated to wishing for the health and happiness of all children and is traditionally celebrated with koi fish banners being hung outside of homes and buildings.

These banners are quite a common sight in early May and provide a bit of nostalgia for many on the island nation. Watching the bright, vivid colors dance in the spring breeze is also quite a treat.

Do you think any of the illustrations below make a splash?

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