life more beautiful: Sendai’s Tanabata(1): At the Shopping Arcade

Ah, Sendai.

I was there just five months ago, immediately after the March 11 triple disasters. I’ve been wanting to go there since I was in Japan for my university exchange in 2007/2008, but haven’t been able to fit it in. And when I finally got there in March (and the journey took a whole day on the road), it was hardly the kind of circumstance I was expecting.

But by August, there were little signs of what happened less than half a year ago. As I stepped out of JR Sendai train station for the first time, I was greated by giant fukinagashi streamers, the iconic Tanabata ornament. I knew I was there to celebrate this time.

Thousands of streamers can be found around Sendai city’s central area during the annual Tanabata festival.

The Tanabata festival (七夕) actually originated from the Chinese Qi Qiao festival, and celebrates the yearly union of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi.

And while Tanabata is celebrated all over Japan and not unique to the city, the scale of Sendai's Tanabata is by far the largest in the country, drawing about 2.2 million visitors each year. The tradition of celebrating Tanabata in Tohoku started more than 400 years ago, with records found from the time of Date Masamune (1567-1636AD), warlord of the Sendai Clan.

Unique to Sendai are the seven decorative ornaments hung around the city, which symbolise prayers for good health, progress in studies, longevity, prosperity and a good catch for fishermen. The ornaments include the aforementioned Fukinagashi, which are essentially big streamers, and the tanzaku, strips of paper on which you can write your prayers.

We were in Sendai only for two days, and we spent part of both days just walking up and down the main shopping arcade for my picture taking.

All photos taken with the Nikon F6 with the AFS 24mm f1.4 and AIS 35mm f1.4, on Kodak Portra 800, except for the final shot, which was taken on Fujifilm Superia Premium 400.

The whole arcade is filled with streamers – and each is made/sponsored by the shops there. In all, about 3,000 fukinagashi are hung up in the city each year during the festival.

Children folding paper cranes at a booth.

Stopping to admire the words of encouragement written on the fukinagashi.

Another fukinagashi that people love to touch.

The streets were lined with game and food stalls. Why not grab a bowl of kakigori to stave off the heat?

With over 2 million visitors descending upon Sendai during the 3-day festival, it’s not surprise that the shops along the main arcade take the chance to hold special sales.