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

Tsukimi(Moon Viewing)

The full moon around the middle of the eighth month of the lunar calendar was called the mid-autumn moon(9/19 this year), and it became a custom to arrange Tsukimi (Moon Viewing) parties to appreciate its beauty. Houses are decorated with pampas grass and dumplings are made and offered to the moon together with samples of crops from the autumn harvest.
© Motoko Shimizu

*For Coloring Fun!

Rainy Season in Color!

Rainy Season!

 For Coloring Fun!

From around early June to mid-July, most of Japan is subject to a period of rainy weather called tsuyu. Day in and day out, the sky remains gloomy, and temperatures and humidity rise. But the early summer rain helps plants grow and flourish, and it's a valuable source of drinking water. © Motoko Shimizu

Children's Day!

For Coloring fun!

May 5th is Children's Day in Japan, when families celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of children. Families with boys fly huge carp-shaped streamers (koinobori) outside the house and display dolls of famous warriors and other heroes inside.