Figure 1.-- This photograph was taken in 1947, only a few years after the War. It shows a little Japanese boy admiring the elaborate suit of armor once worn by his ancestors. These ancient warriors' outfits are treasured by the Japanese and valued highly as works of art. One wonders if it didn't enduce nightmares. |
Kodomo no hi or Children's Day is an important amd popular holiday in Japan. There is a Children's Day in America, but is virtually ignored. In Japan it is actually celebrated. I am not sure, but before World War II the holiday may have been called Tango-no sekku meaning boy or son day or festival. The festival was apparently conceived to promote the martial spirit in boys and to according to a press agency to "bring helath, success, and prosperity to males throughout the land." Elabortely costumed dolls, often handed down from previous generations were displayed in Japanese homes for the whole month. They represented popular Japanese male heros. Friends and relations might visit families with sons. They would be served sweet riceccakes wrapped in oak leaves. The symbol of this holiday is the carp. Families often hang paper or cloth carps head up from poles outside the home. This signifies that the son or sons of the family will be just as healthy as the spirited carp attempting to swim up a water fall. The holiday in modern Japan seems to have been made into a general children's day, perhaps relecting the constitution changes aftervthe War emancipating women. The emphasis on martial spirit also seems to have beem discontinued in demilitarized Japan. As far as we can tell, the carp remains.
Kodomo no hi or Children's Day is an important amd popular holiday in Japan. There is a Children's Day in America, but is virtually ignored. In Japan it is actually celebrated.
I am not sure, but before World War II the holiday may have been called Tango-no sekku meaning boy or son day or festival. The festival was apparently conceived to promote the martial spirit in boys and to according to a press agency to "bring helath, success, and prosperity to males throughout the land." Elabortely costumed dolls, often handed down from previous generations were displayed in Japanese homes for the whole month. They represented popular Japanese male heros. Friends and relations might visit families with sons. They would be served sweet riceccakes wrapped in oak leaves. The symbol of this holiday is the carp. Families often hang paper or cloth carps head up from poles outside the home. This signifies that the son or sons of the family will be just as healthy as the spirited carp attempting to swim up a water fall.
The holiday in modern Japan seems to have been made into a general children's day, perhaps relecting the constitution changes aftervthe War emancipating women. The emphasis on martial spirit also seems to have beem discontinued in demilitarized Japan. As far as we can tell, the carp remains.
A reader tells us, "Yes, the festival used to be boy or son's day. However, after World War II that changed. The elaborate samurai outfit in the photogrph here means that the boy's family came from one of the samurai families. About 10 percent of the population were samurai so this family is part of a revered minority. I also wanted to point out the boy's outfit. I think he is wearing long stockings which would make sense since the holiday occurs in May, a month that can still be a little chilly, especially in northen Japan. He appears to be wearing a sweater or knit long sleeve shirt tucked into his suspender shorts. Also, there appears to be some sort of round garter holding the stockings up but that may be just the image quality. Also note that Japanese do not wear shoes in the house, the boy appears to be in his stocking feet."
I am not entirely sure how children are dressed for Kodomo no hi. A reader has sent us a portrait of a boy in traditional clothing. There is another hiliday for children-- Sichi-go-san. This is 7-5-3 day, referring to the age of the children. We know children now dress up in traditional outfits for this holiday. Children may also dress up in traditional clothes for Kodomo no hi. We do not know if there were differences in the way the children were dressed between the two holidays. We notice that after World War II that boys dressed up in Western-styled suits, the girls always dressed up in traditional outfits. These traditional outfits now seem more popular. They are also quite expensive, so here income level may be a factor.
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