Two years ago, we saw the koinobori flying over the Sagami River. Literally translated as "carp streamer," smaller versions are making their appearance all over Japan, right now. Flown in celebration of boys, koi represent courage and dedication. Like the koi that fight their way upstream each spring, families hope for boys who are strong and brave. The mythical koi that win their river battles are transformed into dragons; so also do families wish for their boys to fulfill their destinies. Tiny, nylon koinobori are being sold in discount stores for 100 yen, and elegant, silk koinobori can be purchased at Babies R Us for the equivalent of several hundred US dollars. I haven't yet seen any hand-painted koinobori for sale, but they are probably out of my price range.
At the Sagami River, wires are stretched across a section of the valley, where over a thousand koinobori flutter and snap in the breeze. It's an incredible sight. Driving is probably the easiest way to get there, with people parking in dry sections of the river bed. This is a very dog-and-kid-friendly event...lots of space for running, with many river pebbles to pick up!
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| Koinobori |
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| Celebration is in the air! When Little Tofu Fox and I went, there were booths selling fair food and drinks. Bring a chair and relax! |
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| One of my friends told me the koinobori are corporation-sponsored. That's really all I know about how these banners get here. |
Make sure to pick a day with plenty of wind, so as to see the koinobori at their best. The sounds of all that fabric snapping in the breeze is truly amazing. Kanagawa Prefecture's English tourist website says that the Sagami koinobori can be seen from April 29-May 5. They are located upstream from the Takada Bridge on the Sagami River, in Suigotana, Sagamihara City.
Can't make it to the Sagami River? Take a walk around your neighborhood! Or, if you live on-base, hop off at a neighborhood train station and start walking through the residential areas. Families are hanging out their personal koinobori right now! Look carefully if you see one. There are at least four fluttering components: the streamer at the stop, following by three koi. The top koi is black. That is the father. The second one is red, and that is the mother. The third and any remaining koi are the boys in the family.
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| I spotted these koinobori as Little TF and I cycled past our station. I am still waiting for our next-door neighbor to hang theirs! |
Ganbatte!
-The Tofu Fox
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