IWAKI, Fukushima Prefecture--With Children's Day approaching, craftsman Hiroyuki Yoshida is busy creating traditional streamers in his restored studio, which was damaged in the earthquake disaster two years ago.
IWAKI, Fukushima Prefecture--With Children's Day approaching, craftsman Hiroyuki Yoshida is busy creating traditional streamers in his restored studio, which was damaged in the earthquake disaster two years ago.
The hand-painted banners, called "Iwaki enobori," often depict carp swimming upstream, the legendary boy Kintaro with superhuman strength, or medieval warriors.
Celebrating the May 5 "Tango no Sekku" festival by hoisting streamers to pray for the health of children spread throughout Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1867).
The custom became particularly popular in and around Iwaki after a feudal lord issued orders to enliven the region with colorful streamers.
Yoshida, 34, said he carefully paints stroke by stroke to create a picture banner, hoping that it will be handed down through families for generations. Each picture takes about a week to complete.
"The 2011 earthquake and tsunami and the nuclear disaster in Fukushima left many families homeless or forced them to live separately," he said. "Particularly at times like this, I want to be part of keeping the tradition of praying for children’s happiness alive."
While banners are traditionally used outdoors, orders for indoor wall-hanging type banners, typically measuring 0.7 meter by 1.4 to 2 meters and costing at least 60,000 yen ($606) each, have been increasing, according to Yoshida.
Many of the customers are grandparents who want to give a gift to their grandchildren to celebrate the Children's Day festival.