Da Scoops

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii (JCCH) is sponsoring Kodomo No Hi: Keiki Fun Fest 2007.

The event is free and features entertainment, fun family activities, and festival food. Click the image to the right to view the flyer with full details on featured entertainment schedule.

When: Sunday, April 29, 2007
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii
2454 South Beretania Street, Honolulu HI 96826
(808) 945-7633, www.jcch.com

From the JCCH flyer promoting the event:

Kodomo no Hi is a national holiday in Japan that has evolved over hundreds of years. Centuries ago, there were two festivals that celebrated girls and boys separately: Momo no Sekku (Peach Festival) for girls and Shobu no Sekku (Iris Festival) for boys, respectively. As Japan changed, Momo no Sekku became known as Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) and Shobu no Sekku turned into Tango no Sekku (Boy’s Day). Traditionally, on the fifth day of the fifth month, families wished their male children future success and long life by displaying koi nobori (carp windsocks), a symbol of strength, and mushaningyo (warrior figurines) of famous Japanese heroes.

Following World War II, Tango no Sekku once again changed to Kodomo no Hi — a holiday that is part of Japan’s Golden Week — which celebrates both boys and girls. In May, in honor of Children’s Day, many families in Japan and Hawaii still display the koi nobori outside their homes; however, parents are often doing so to show their appreciation and wish for the future success of their young ones — both male and female.