Tom J

1 hours ago
[Image1]Today is Tanabata, a traditional Japanese festival that has its origin both in romance and the stars

Today is Tanabata, a traditional Japanese festival that has its origin both in romance and the stars. Many people may already know the details of the (literally) star-crossed romance of Orihime and Hikoboshi, but the unique celebration of Tanabata can give you a rare chance for a look into the hearts and minds of the often quiet and reserved people of Japan.

The main custom of Tanabata is writing wishes on a slip of paper called a Tanzaku and tying it to bamboo. The wishes, on paper of various colors, look lovely and festive as they hang in public places. It is fun to write your own wish and hang it to join the others, and since it is all anonymous, you can participate even if you are shy!

For me, the most interesting part is seeing what other people wish for. It is a rare moment of vulnerability and openness, seeing wishes to find love, the success loved ones, health and happiness. (I once saw someone make wishes for stock trading, so it isn't all sentimental!) It can be a revealing look at the wishes and desires of people who would otherwise almost never voice these sentiments openly. All in all, it is heartwarming and makes me feel closer to my fellow man, which in its own way is its own vision of love to set alongside Orihime and Hikoboshi's tale.

As a bonus, the Japanese of tanzaku wishes is usually short simple, making it good for study. If you are in Japan for Tanabata, you are sure to see Tanzaku somewhere. Why not try writing a wish of your own?

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Jun. 22, 2026
Wagashi, the world of traditional Japanese confections, has a great variety of individual treats, each with their devoted fans. Broadly generalizing, it may be said that they feature anko(red bean paste) as often as not, and invariably go well with green tea. Monaka sandwiches anko between two crispy rice crackers, while Taiyaki is a similarly crispy batter made into a distinctive fish shape, again with anko inside. These are perhaps two of the most famous Wagashi. Monaka has inspired a variety of monaka-style ice cream sandwiches you can find in any convenience store, and Taiyaki is unforgettable as the snack that looks like a fish. A similar snack with even longer roots is more of a no-nonsense round cake, fluffier than Taiyaki, chewier and thicker. Its delicious and filling, but perhaps the most noteworthy thing about it is what it is or isn't named. The pictured round delicious treat has not been able to settle on a single name across the country. In Kanto, where most visitors may gravitate, it is known as Imagawayaki. Outside the capital region, you may be more likely to hear Obanyaki, a name evidently spreading out from Shikoku. In Osaka and Kyushu, it may be called Kaiten-yaki, Taiko-yaki, or Taiko-manju. In Hyogo the -yaki convention is entirely discarded, and it is widely known as Gozasoro, the term almost universally used in Himeji. Incredibly, these don't count for half the known names for this snack. This makes for a fun game when you see at at festival stalls or in market streets travelling across Japan. What name will it have when you find it?