Kodomo no Hi: Celebrating Japan's Children

As spring transitions into summer, Japan has one of its biggest holiday seasons of the year. During this time, there is a string of national holidays known as Golden Week. One of the most celebrated holidays during that week is Kodomo no Hi, or Children’s Day.

While it may otherwise sound like a generic holiday, Kodomo no Hi has some striking and iconic elements: flying colorful fish, samurai armor, and miniature war generals.

Let’s explore the history of this special day and how it’s celebrated throughout Japan.

The History of Kodomo no Hi

Celebrated on May 5th each year, Kodomo no Hi is a day to honor and respect the unique strengths of children, the generations that will soon become leaders! People wish for the health and prosperity of all children, particularly those in their families.

Long ago, Kodomo no Hi was known by a different name: Tango no Sekku. The literal translation is something along the lines of “Nearing the Seventh Sign of the Chinese Zodiac,” but it was also known as “Ayame no Hi,” or “the Iris Festival.” This marked the time of year when irises began to bloom and many thought that the sound of the irises rustling in the wind was reminiscent of the sound made when honoring warriors.

Thus, people took this time to pray for a strong and healthy male heir to the family, which was particularly important to families of the warrior class. Eventually, this day became a festival celebrating boys, contrasted by Hinamatsuri, “Girls’ Day” or “the Doll Festival,” celebrated on March 3rd every year.

Carps and Samurai Armor

One of the most striking elements of any holiday is the decorations and Kodomo no Hi decor does not disappoint!

If you visit Japan around this time you’ll be bound to see large colorful carp flags, known as koinobori, flying from homes, businesses, and other buildings. These come from a Chinese legend about a group of colorful koi fish that fought their way up a waterfall known as Ryumon, or Dragon’s Gate. Once inside, they transformed into dragons! Now families fly them to represent the strength of their family. The largest black koi represents the father, the red one the mother, and the blue one traditionally represents the son. Families will continue adding flags for any additional children in the family.

In addition to koinobori, families decorate their homes with samurai armor (yoroi) and helmets (kabuto). Sometimes they are full-size but more often in miniature form. Families may also opt for miniature warriors adorned in intricate armor and armaments. The purpose of this harkens back to the origins of the time of the samurai, where the armor now represents hopes of raising strong and healthy boys.

Food to Celebrate Children

There are two main dishes eaten on Kodomo no Hi: chimaki and kashiwa mochi. Both are dumplings but are fairly unique and distinct.

Chimaki are made from a mixture of glutinous rice and various fillings, including pork, carrots, bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms. This mixture is wrapped in bamboo leaves and boiled. Chimaki can have different shapes and flavors based on the region you’re celebrating in.

Kashiwa mochi is a traditional wagashi treat consisting of a sweet mochi filled with sweet red bean paste and wrapped in a kashiwa, or oak leaf. The oak leaf gives kashiwa mochi their distinct appearance and symbolizes the wish for one’s children to have a prosperous life.

As you can see, there are quite a few elements that make Kodomo no Hi such a special day. And while it has its roots deep in the past of Japanese culture, it is still widely celebrated to this day!

This year, why not take the opportunity to raise a flag or make some mochi for the little ones in your life? 

About the author: 

Kevin Kilcoyne

The spark that lit Kevin Kilcoyne’s interest in Japanese culture began in elementary school through a friendship with his then classmate Keisuke. Since then, that passion has evolved and bloomed to encompass more than just video games and manga, leading Kevin to live in Japan as a participant of the JET program. During his time in Japan, Kevin sought out as many foods as he could, the experiences and taste memories lingering long after they had gone. Now he is forging a path to link his passions for Japanese food, history, and visual culture and is planning for his return to live in Japan once again. For now, you can find Kevin on Instagram (@waruishouten) where he posts his photography and illustration work. Keep an eye out for more posts and updates as Kevin delves more deeply into his passions for writing and food.