Tanabata Festival

7 July 2007 marked Tanabata in Japan. While this day was considered lucky all over the world, it was especially important in Japan. Tanabata is an important annual Japanese celestial holiday. It celebrates the story of a girl (Vega) who wove silk for her father amongst the stars. She wanted to find a husband though, and her father arranged for her to meet a cow herder (Altair). They fell in love and married, but she stopped weaving silk and he let his cows run freely in the galaxy. Thus, the father banished them to opposite sides of the Milky Way. The girl cried at this, and the father eventually agreed to let them meet one day a year (7/7), if the girl completed her weaving. Today, Tanabata is celebrated festival style, complete with street decorations, food stalls, and carnival games. Some festivals are small, but Hiratsuka has a large, four-day festival I went to this past Sunday.

It's a small world after all.... This was one of the displays hung over the street at the festival. I understand the Thai dancers, the Hawaiian people, the cactus and sombreros for Mexico, and the gondolier for Italy, but I don't understand the row of women performing a kick line on the gondola. Does anyone want to take a guess?

It's Momotaro! (aka Peach Taro) He is part of Japanese folklore also. It is said that he came from a peach, was raised by an older, childless couple, and went on to defeat demons with a monkey, dog, and pheasant. He is very popular in Japan.

Lastly, a local vegetable stand I came across in my neighborhood. Just rummage through you pockets for proper change, insert coins, and reach in for your tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, etc. No need to worry about staffing the stand, theft, or making change. One word, smart!