Sendai Tanabata

One of my favorite summer festivals when I lived in Tokyo was Tanabata. Who doesn't like Tanabata or any summer festival for that matter? People getting dressed up, decorations all over, fireworks, good moods, and beer, summer festivals are a good time.

When I moved to Sendai I found that Tanabata is celebrated in August here instead of July. Curious as to why, I asked around and the first answers I got were that Sendai wanted to be different and attract people. Then I was told that back a long time ago, Tanabata was held in August. Finally a student of mine pointed me towards the complete answer and told me that Tanabata was held in August according to the moon calendar.

Tanabata is based on the Chinese holiday Qi Xi, which was celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar. Japan hasn't used the lunar calendar since the Edo Era, but the seventh day of the seventh month on the lunar calendar is in the solar calendar's August, the city of Sendai celebrates it then probably taking into account that there are few other places that hold Tanabata around the same time. It gives Sendai a reason to draw people in.

The school year started a little early this year and so I wasn't able to spend the amount of time I wanted to downtown wandering around. I was able to get a few hours in trying to make my way through the crowds.