Tanabata Festival

Happy Tanabata Festival!

Today, July 7th marks my favourite Japanese festival – Tanabata! The decorations for this festival are just so pretty!

Tanabata originated more than 2,000 years ago with an old Chinese tale called Kikkoden. Once there was a weaver princess named Orihime and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi living in space. After they got together, they were playing all the time and forgot about their jobs. The king was angry at them and separated them on opposite sides of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way). The king allowed them to meet only once a year on July 7th. This is why tanabata is also known as the star festival. It's believed that Orihime and Hikoboshi can't see each other if July 7th is rainy, so people pray for good weather and also make wishes for themselves.

Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture) and Hiratsuka (Kanagawa Prefecture) are particularly famous for their elaborate Tanabata displays. Shopping arcades in these two cities feature huge decorations that are sponsored by local shops, which try to outdo one another in the size of their displays.

For more info please click here. I hope you might be inspired to make you own little origami paper decoration on this special day. And if so, you might like Origami Club!


Tonight Yumi-chan and I will attend a special Tanabata Festival Concert at the Conservatorium of Music organised by the Sydney Japan Foundation. To book tickets please click here.

Also, please check out Yumi-chan’s new blog Dear Plastic where she documents her no plastic challenge. Yumi recently posted about grocery store co-ops where you can re-fill your own containers rather than adding to landfill by purchasing items that come covered in packaging. This is something I was inspired to do when I saw No Impact Man movie with Lovely Liane. Here is Yumi's list of some Sydney co-ops to get you started. I can't wait to join one! But the best kept secret is that the Manly co-op on Yumi's list also sell fresh tofu, umeboshi and other Japanese essentials like mirin!

Enjoy lovelies!

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xxx

Happy Tanabata!

Look at this amazing Tanabata festival I went to in Hiratsuka today! Oh My Goodness it was so beautiful!

I've been in love with Tanabata festival for many years now. Remember this artwork I made that was inspired by this festival? Seeing Tanabata in real life for the first time today has given me so much inspiration for my upcoming show (where I will create another Tanabata-inspired installation) at Sydney's Object Gallery. I'll be hosting a paper craft workshop too so I hope you can come along!

I've also got a little Tanabata tree in my new Tokyo apartment! You could make some decorations for your home too using these cute instructions!

Happy Tanabata Everyone!

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xxx

Hiratsuka Tanabata and Enoshima 2013

We headed out to the Hiratsuka Tanabata festival today in Tokyo's 35 degree heat and crazy humidity.





It's a long train trip from Shibuya, and it was crazy hot, so we headed straight for the ¥300 beers upon arrival.









Summer 西瓜.





So many gorgeous Tanabata decorations. Do you remember my earlier Tanabata posts here , here and here?














These wooden poles were bending under the weight.



This little kid wished that they could work at Mister Donut! So adorable.



かき氷 (Shaved Ice). A summertime favourite.










Colourful okonomiyaki.



Miso cucumber. Yum.




More beers. We drank these ones while wiping sweat from our faces with face washers. Ugh so hot.











Hiratsuka station was madness.



So we took the train to Enoshima.





And headed over to Enoshima Island.





"It looks like a shark egg".



We headed to a restaurant overlooking the beach for dinner. "Is this the first time you've been in an elevator without shoes" said Mr Y.



And spotted a beautiful sunset from our table.





Pre-dinner olives.



After dinner, and while the sun was setting, we took a walk down my favourite laneway to find this lovely sight.







And then it was time to head back to Tokyo.

Thank you Mr Y and Luke for a lovely Sunday.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo