Latest news with #Tanabata
The Advertiser
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
This is how to make the most of your trip to Tokyo - no matter the weather
HOW: You have two choices during summer in Tokyo: escape the heat, or embrace it. For the former, check out some of the city's many excellent museums and galleries. TeamLab Planets is an uber-popular, interactive display of colour and light; the Studio Ghibli museum in Mitaka is an enjoyable ode to a legend; and the Nezu Museum and Mori Art Museum are also excellent places to enjoy culture and air-conditioning. If you're planning to embrace the season, you could visit the beach in Tokyo Bay, have a barbecue with locals by the waterfront at Shioiri Park, or go to a baseball game, preferably at the historic Meiji Jingu Stadium (stay nearby at the Keio Plaza Hotel). Of the major summer festivals, don't miss Tanabata, the star festival, in early July; the four-day Mitama Matsuri, best known for more than 30,000 lanterns on display in mid-July; and the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, in late July. At all of them you will find locals out celebrating, often while eating seasonal treats such as kakigori (Japanese shaved ice). Summer is also the season for eating unagi, or eel - try it at a specialist such as Unagi Uomasa in Katsushika. And don't miss "hiyashi chuka", or cold, seasonal ramen, served at Chiisha in Ikejiri-Ohashi.
Axios
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Philly weekender: Blobfest and Ice Cream Festival
The Tanabata star festival continues today at the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center. The festival honors the folkloric romance of deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. Cosmic decorations, written wishes, a drumming performance, plus a beer garden. Runs through Sunday. 🎆 New Hope is throwing another one of its signature monthly summer bashes, which kicks off today at 5pm on Stockton Avenue. Food, drinks, art, music, plus fireworks and drone show over the Delaware River at 9:10pm. 🍿 Blobfest is back! Phoenixville, the site where scenes from the 1958 classic "The Blob" were filmed, carries on the decadeslong tradition with a three-day festival, including screenings, stage shows and celebrations at the historic Colonial Theatre. The itinerary includes a Blobfest Ball dance party tonight, a street fair on Saturday and several running events on Sunday. Tickets available for each event. 🤹 Cirque du Soleil's"OVO" is at the Wells Fargo Center this weekend. Acrobats, juggling and more from the French-Canadian troupe. Friday-Sunday. Tickets: $62+ 🫐 It's a berry bonanza at the Blueberry Festival at Linvilla Orchards. Blueberry-picking, a pie-eating contest and treats. Saturday, 8am-6pm. Free but tickets required to pick blueberries. 🌳 Borski Park, the city's newest green space along the Delaware River waterfront, is throwing a big party on Saturday from 10am-2pm to mark its official opening. Food trucks, water balloon tosses and sack races for the kiddos, plus riverfront yoga and line dancing. 🤡 Otherworld, Philly's immersive playground, marks its two-year anniversary with Jester Fest, which runs through July 21. 😜 Barnes on the Block has hands-on activities, live music and DJs and free museum admission, plus a beer garden for the adults.
Asahi Shimbun
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Humanity's best trait rests in the Tanabata wishes made for others
A girl hangs a slip of paper with her wish on a bamboo branch in Kobe's Tarumi Ward on July 6, the day before the Tanabata star festival. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) When I recently visited a local library, I came across decorations for Tanabata, the traditional Japanese star festival held on July 7. A slender stalk of 'sasa' bamboo stood tall, its branches adorned with colorful 'tanzaku'—long, narrow strips of paper used for writing wishes and hanging them on bamboo as part of the festival tradition. One wish read, in a child's innocent handwriting, 'I want to be able to do a back hip circle.' Other wishes ranged from hopes for love to success in school entrance exams. The countless tanzaku swayed softly in the breeze, like ripened fruit gently weighing down the branches. As Tanabata draws near, I'm reminded of childhood evenings spent gazing up at the night sky in search of the two stars. In Chinese legend, the star-crossed lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi—separated by the Milky Way and allowed to meet only once a year on this day—are known as Zhinu, the weaving girl, and Qianniu, the cowherd. Astronomically, they are Vega, a brilliant blue-white star in the constellation Lyra, and Altair, the brightest star in Aquila, the Eagle. Though these stars lie some 14 light-years apart, invoking such scientific detail seems almost out of place amid the romance of the story. My eyes were drawn to one yellow tanzaku that read: 'Oba-chan ga 100 sai made ikiraremasu yoi' (I hope Grandma can live until she's 100). The handwriting was bold, thick and full of youthful energy. From a grammatical standpoint, the final 'yoi' was likely meant to be 'yoni,' but such small errors only added to the charm. Free of pretense, the tender emotion came through with striking sincerity. Perhaps it's because we live in a world where mockery and hatred roam so freely that the simplicity of this wish moved me so deeply. Without realizing it, my eyes welled with tears. Yes, it's important to care for ourselves, but the selfless act of thinking of someone else, of wishing happiness and health for a loved one, is profoundly moving. That short message on a piece of yellow paper made me bow my head in quiet reverence. A poem published in The Asahi Shimbun's 'Senryu' section on July 5 also struck a deep chord with me: On a tanzaku/ 'Peace on Earth' written/ in the children's ward. Even while battling illness, there are children who still pray for peace in the world. How heavy with meaning such a simple line can be. It evokes the vision of 'the true happiness of all people' that the Japanese writer and poet Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) expressed in his celebrated fantasy novel 'Night on the Galactic Railroad.' Another Japanese novelist, Osamu Dazai (1909-1948), once reflected on a single kanji character in a letter to a friend. The character in question is one pronounced 'yu" in its 'on'yomi" (Chinese-derived reading). It can mean "sugureru" (to excel) or "yasashii" (gentle or kind). But if you look closely, the character is composed of the radical for 'person' and the character for 'grief' or 'worry'—suggesting 'to worry about others.' 'To be sensitive to another person's loneliness, sorrow or pain—that is kindness,' Dazai wrote. 'And perhaps, I wonder, that's what makes us most human.' —The Asahi Shimbun, July 6 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Web Release
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
UAE Pavilion Celebrates Two Million Visitors with a Celebration of Hope and Shared Dream
The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, today celebrated a major milestone as it welcomed its two millionth visitor, affirming its status as a destination of inspiration, dialogue and cross-cultural exchange. The milestone was marked with a special celebration inspired by Japan's beloved Tanabata Festival, reinforcing the Pavilion's ethos of shared experiences and collective hope for the future. As part of the celebration, visitors were invited to write their wishes for a better future on custom-designed Tanzaku cards and hang them on the Pavilion's outdoor signage. Tanabata is a traditional Japanese festival that has been cherished for generations. Rooted in themes of love, hope and dreams, it invites people to write their wishes on colourful Tanzaku strips and hang them on bamboo branches, with the belief that their hopes will be carried to the sky. The celebrations, which drew thousands of participants, featured palm leaves in place of bamboo, echoing the UAE Pavilion's symbolic date palm. Wishes were hung upon them, transforming the Pavilion's forecourt into a vibrant visual symbol of dreams and aspirations. Designed under the theme 'Earth to Ether,' the UAE Pavilion offers a multi-sensory experience across five thematic zones that reflect the UAE's story of heritage, ambition, and innovation. Visitors have consistently praised its immersive storytelling, architecture, and warm hospitality, all of which underscore the UAE's commitment to forging meaningful international partnerships and creating inclusive platforms for dialogue. His Excellency Shihab Alfaheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, said: 'We are deeply honoured to have welcomed two million visitors to the UAE Pavilion. This reflects the world's interest, trust, and connection with the UAE's journey. By celebrating this milestone during Tanabata, we not only honoured a cherished Japanese tradition but also embraced the spirit of cultural exchange that defines Expo 2025. Our Pavilion continues to be a living space of ideas, creativity and shared values.' Since its opening in April, the UAE Pavilion has hosted a variety of impactful events, cultural showcases, and thematic activations. These have included expert talks, cultural performances, creative workshops, Emirati cuisine demonstrations, and exhibitions by Emirati artists alongside collaborative dialogues, each carefully curated to engage diverse audiences and provide meaningful insights into the UAE's culture, values, and spirit of collaboration. Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, runs until October 13, 2025. The UAE Pavilion remains open to all visitors throughout the Expo, offering a powerful, human-centred perspective on how nations can come together to shape a better tomorrow.
Gulf Today
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka celebrates two million visitors
The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, on Monday celebrated a major milestone as it welcomed its two millionth visitor, affirming its status as a destination of inspiration, dialogue and cross-cultural exchange. The milestone was marked with a special celebration inspired by Japan's beloved Tanabata Festival, reinforcing the Pavilion's ethos of shared experiences and collective hope for the future. As part of the celebration, visitors were invited to write their wishes for a better future on custom-designed Tanzaku cards and hang them on the Pavilion's outdoor signage. Tanabata is a traditional Japanese festival that has been cherished for generations. Rooted in themes of love, hope and dreams, it invites people to write their wishes on colourful Tanzaku strips and hang them on bamboo branches, with the belief that their hopes will be carried to the sky. The celebrations, which drew thousands of participants, featured palm leaves in place of bamboo, echoing the UAE Pavilion's symbolic date palm. Wishes were hung upon them, transforming the Pavilion's forecourt into a vibrant visual symbol of dreams and aspirations. Designed under the theme 'Earth to Ether,' the UAE Pavilion offers a multi-sensory experience across five thematic zones that reflect the UAE's story of heritage, ambition, and innovation. Visitors have consistently praised its immersive storytelling, architecture, and warm hospitality, all of which underscore the UAE's commitment to forging meaningful international partnerships and creating inclusive platforms for dialogue. Shihab Alfaheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, said, "We are deeply honoured to have welcomed two million visitors to the UAE Pavilion. This reflects the world's interest, trust, and connection with the UAE's journey. By celebrating this milestone during Tanabata, we not only honoured a cherished Japanese tradition but also embraced the spirit of cultural exchange that defines Expo 2025. Our Pavilion continues to be a living space of ideas, creativity and shared values.' Since its opening in April, the UAE Pavilion has hosted a variety of impactful events, cultural showcases, and thematic activations. These have included expert talks, cultural performances, creative workshops, Emirati cuisine demonstrations, and exhibitions by Emirati artists alongside collaborative dialogues, each carefully curated to engage diverse audiences and provide meaningful insights into the UAE's culture, values, and spirit of collaboration. Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, runs until October 13, 2025. The UAE Pavilion remains open to all visitors throughout the Expo, offering a powerful, human-centred perspective on how nations can come together to shape a better tomorrow. WAM
