Carp A Load Of This

A few months back, I mentioned Girl's Day, where dolls are put on display. Today is Boy's Day, and it's a whole lot more interesting.

In the Edo period, people displayed samurai armour to symbolise the brave soldiers their children could become. At the same time, the commoners wanted to mark this festivity and competed with the elite by displaying こいのぼり - koinobori. You're going to have to stick with me on this one.

Simply put, "koi" means "carp" and "nobori" comes from the stem "to climb". This flag-like item is used as a charm in families with young boys for the week or two surrounding the 5th May. The fish are placed on balconies or in public where they 'float' in the air. Just as a carp struggles to swim upstream, climbing higher and higher even though it's easier to swim in the opposite direction, so does this wish for boys to grow up as strong and determined as the carp. I think it's a really lovely idea, with a clever purpose to it, albeit a warped person to invent it.



There's a song too, of course, to be sung while flying the flag. To listen, follow the link here and then click on the title to start the song.

屋根 より 高い こいのぼり Yane yori takai koinobori
Konobori are higher than the roof
大きい 真鯉 は お父さん Ookii magoi wa otoosan
The biggest carp is the father
小さい 緋鯉 は 子供たち Chiisai higoi wa kodomo tachi
The small carp are children
面白 そう に 泳いでる Omoshiro soo ni oyoideru
Enjoying swiming in the sky

Sagamihara Council is famous for setting up over 1200 koinobori over Sagamihara River, along with a market, stalls and games; most notably winning/eating fish taken from the river. It's a bit of a trek from Tokyo - a 2 hour train-bus combo each way, but it was worth it. I don't think the pictures do justice to the size they were.






Another bizarre occasion in Japan. I think it would've been stranger if I'd seen it a year ago; I'm definitely becoming desensitized to it all.

Happy Boy's Day!