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Boy's Day in Japan
 Oak
leaves, iris root, peach boy, golden child and giant fish flying high in the
sky...these are just some of the more significant images traditionally associated with boys in Japan
during the May 5th celebration of Boy's Day. Called Tango no Sekku
in Japanese and meaning "First Day of the Horse", this special day has for centuries been
a time to honor, celebrate and instruct young boys in the manly responsibilities
they are expected to assume when grown. With the samurai warrior as their
model, boys in Japan are taught to be strong, honest and willing to overcome any
obstacle or evil in the course of fulfilling their duty. To this end,
icons of courage, leadership and service are used by families and communities to
make clear to young boys their role and function in society.
 Like the March
3rd celebration of Girl's Day, when beautiful dolls of the imperial court are
arranged and displayed in the family home, similar arrangements are also put on
display for Tango no Sekku. However, Boy's Day displays have a
decidedly masculine feel, with popular dolls being figures representing
traditional male heroes such as Kintaro (golden boy), a legendary
Japanese youth of incredible strength; or Momotaro (peach boy), the
perfect son and defender of the weak. Additional dolls are sometimes
displayed which represent historic figures from Japanese and even Chinese
military history. Small suits of armor with assorted weapons are also very
popular and complete displays can be purchased at department stores and
specialty shops in the months leading up to May.
 Homes with male offspring may also fly huge banners
shaped like colorful carp fish (koi) from tall flag poles. These
banners, called koinobori in Japanese, though more popular in the past
can today still be seen flying boldly above the courtyards of large country
farmhouses and even from the balconies of cramped city apartments. Carp
are appreciated in both China and Japan as symbols of success, and one popular
Chinese legend tells of a particularly determined fish who succeeded in battling
his way upstream to eventually become a dragon. In 1948 legislation was passed in Japan renaming Boy's Day as "Children's Day" (kodomo
no hi). However, in practice most Japanese families still choose to
honor their daughters with a day of their own on March 3rd, while allowing their
sons their own special day on the "First Day of the Horse".
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Click
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to see Boy's Day items available for purchase from our eBay store
The Old Tokaido |
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