Tanabata is one of the big summer festival in all over Japan.
Although Tanabata is said that common culture in Asia,
Japan's Tanabata is original.
Because it is related to ancient Shinto.
(Nature worship, called Shinto, is older than any other traditional religions)
Now that most Tanabata festivals in Japan are held on July 7,
but some northern prefectures have them on August 7.
August 7 is true Tanabata in spiritual world.
Sendai prefecture's festival is very famous and beautiful. (Photos)
Sometimes, Tanabata is called a festival of milky way.
Many Japanese moms make special star foods for kids.(Photos)
In Tanabata legend, princess Orihime and prince Hikoboshi were able to meet each other only once a year.
The place for meeting is at the milky way if it is not a rainy day.
Japanese people cerebrate the couple's date.
The couple represents "Izanagi and Izanami", Japanese first husband and wife
in the most oldest myth of Japan.
And Japanese make a self wish too.
Above colorful papers are Tanzaku.
Personal wishes are written on them and displayed with bamboo leaves.
This culture is not so much important
because that's too superficial and meaningless.
Importance of Tanabata is a preparation for OBON week.
Japanese have very unique week for ancestor worship in the middle of August.
The week is called OBON/BON.
After life world's gate is opened fully only during OBON week.
After life world is called "Anoyo" in Japan. It means "That world".
In OBON week, ancestors are able to visit the material world temporarily.
They enjoy the material world beside own descendants.
This is not a metaphor.
In this period, bad spirits also wander around, then many sensitive people feel sick during OBON.
Or if you have ancestors who are living in sad level of Anoyo,
you may feel bad.
Yes, there are classes in Anoyo.
Old generation people never visit sea or river during OBON.
Bad spirits pull people's leg under the water.
That is a common sense in Japan.
Above spiritual phenomenon of OBON occurs especially in Japan.
Because Japan has sad history of Mu, the lost continent.
I don't recommend you to visit Japan in August.
Usually, poor ancestors can't move their class/level in Anoyo.
(Anoyo is a fixed situation until next rebirth)
Regular level ancestors can visit lower class only and
more free, happy level ancestors can protect own descendants on the Earth.
Wealthy ancestor/parent offer a lot of choices for own descentsnt/children.
The level depends on amount of Zentoku.
"What did you do to others in your life time?"
The only way to save poor ancestors is Japanese style, daily Butsudan ritual with 3 incense sticks.
This is a kind of white magic. It must be done by descendant.
Even free and happy ancestors can't visit the material world except Obon week.
But they are watching descendants very carefully to avoid bad accidents.
They do many things more then you think.
In Japan there are some important events for ancestors.
Almost related to the Sun moving.
Spring equinox = Spring Ohigan week in March
↓
Summer solstice in June.
Sun worship and rice planting ritual, sacred plant ring ritual all over Japan.
↓
Tanabata 8/7 (Just before OBON)
↓
OBON 8/13-8/16
↓
Autumn equinox = Autumn Ohigan week in September
↓
Winter solstice in December (Revival of the sun)
The most important day in Shinto/Nature and ancestor worship.
The most important day in Shinto/Nature and ancestor worship.
Many Japanese people think that each one is single event.
But the above events are connected as a series of year.
In other words, people have events for own ancestors all the year.
Of course OBON is the high-light in ancestor worship.
Of course OBON is the high-light in ancestor worship.
Also, OBON is known as Buddhism culture in Japan.
It is not a true.
Original ancient Shinto has the concept of ancestor worship too.
God/Whole Universe/Nature created human being because he wanted to see self.
God/Whole Universe/Nature created human being because he wanted to see self.
Tanabata is written like this in Japanese language → 七夕
七 = Seven or July
夕 = Evening, around sunset
Sunset time is unstable and sensitive zone.
After life world is known as a yellow, vague evening world.
About the sound of Tana-bata.
Sound of Bata/Hata has strong connection with Ya-hata jinjya shrine in Kyoto.
Around Ya-hata jinjya shrine, Moses and Hebrews taught Japanese people developed weaver skill.
So, originally, Tanabata was also festival for further development of fabric produce in Japan.
Wishing private things are not good in Tanabata.
Shinto is not like that.
In Shinto, every thing is a container.
You can put anything you want into the containers.
For example, if you cherish a pen for a long time, it will has a special power of happiness as a result.
(Energy infused pen)
Because materials always absorb energy that someone give.
Even your body is a great container.
You can put self sacred divinity instead of evil thinking.
Tanabata ornaments are kind of Yorishiro to invite ancestors.
People have to write gratitude words on colorful paper instead of begging words.
Photos by photolibrary