MAIN Home Life Holidays Children's Day

While Japan is generally more noted for honoring its elders, the young are also honored with a day set aside on May 5 for a joyous celebration of "Children’s Day", (Kodomo no Hi) a combination of what use to be separate days for “Girls Day” (Hina Matsuri, March 3rd) and “Boys Day” (Tango-no-Sekku, May 5).

The celebration for girls is traditionally marked with a display of dolls handed down from mother to daughter for generations. Figuring prominently in the boys' celebration are sumarai warrior dolls, along with carp streamers flown outside in gardens and backyards that symbolize the macho strength and determination of the carp in Japanese folklore.

Children's Day foods are also served, including rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo, bean filled rice cakes and special sweets.

Find out more about the day honoring the country's younger generation at top sites offering personal memories, pictures, stories, classroom ideas and the history of Japan's Children's Day Festival...

Children's Day - An illustrated intro to the holiday celebrated with streamers, dolls, special foods and other special traditions in a brief overview.

Children's Day - Carp streamers filling the sky courtesy of the Osaka Prefectural Government site, and in Japanese only. But you'll get the picture...

MIT Japanese: "culture-notes" - Kodomo-no-hi, May - Pictures from the author's collection of sumarai dolls, carp streamers and special dishes served on the day, along with traditional words and music to Koinobori, the carp streamer song.

Boy's Day - Detailed account of the day's modern significance with related stories and legends, pictures and additional info on Girls Day.

TASSI - Children's Day - Great teacher resource with lesson plans for learning more about the holiday with ideas for special crafts, readings, and related math, art and science projects.

also see in Travel -> Japan

also see in Holidays -> Emperor's Birthday