Star Festival (Tanabata) Coloring

Tanabata (star festival）is held on the evening of July 7th, when the two constellations Kengyu and Orihime, lovers in the sky though separated from each other by the Milky Way, are able to meet. Children and adults write their wishes on tanzaku paper and hang them, along with other paper ornaments, on bamboo branches.

© Motoko Shimizu

Suika-wari (watermelon-cracking) in Color!

Suika-wari (watermelon-cracking)

* For coloring fun!

Japan has many wonderful beaches since it is surrounded by the sea. Suika-wari (watermelon-cracking) is one of the most popular of beach games: a person with a stick is blindfolded, spun around a few times, then guided by the audiences' directions towards the watermelon. Everyone gets one swing, and whoever cracks it open, wins. Of course, participants eat the watermelon after the game!! © Motoko Shimizu