May 5, 2009

Fish that Fly

Koinobori (carp streamers) flown in honor of Children's Day, a day to celebrate children and wish for their happiness and general well-being. This one was in front of someone's house in Sakura, in Chiba prefecture.

The koinobori range from abbreviated versions with only two carp, to extralong streamers that stretch across bridges, like this one in Katsutadai, in Chiba. In their own way, they denote the families with children. With the decreasing population, there is a sense of comfort in seeing these carp blowing in the wind, fastened to apartment balconies or someone's rooftop antenna.

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