Koinobori streamers are flying over Hija River in Kadena.

Hundreds of carp streamers will fly in the air on Hijyagawa River as the 21^st Hijyagawa Koinobori Festival kicks off at Kadena Town.

The excitement begins Sunday from 10 a.m. ~ 3:30 p.m. at the Kadena Town Sogo Fukushi Center in Mizugama, Kadena Town. Local young and old people in Kadena Town volunteer to make and color carp streamers and clean around the event site every year.  People can enjoy a variety of stage performances mainly for children, and experience activities like pottery making and riding on a pleasure boat.  There are also many food stalls set up by local stores selling curry, pasta and sweets. Organizers note that while it might be a small-scale event, visitors will experience the community spirit.

Entertainment in the event is geared mainly towards children, but also shows the vibrant community spirit.

Admission is free to the Hijyagawa Koinobori Festival.  There are no parking space at the event site, so shuttle busses will be running between Kaneku Kaihin Park and the venue from 8:30 a.m. ~ 4 p.m.

The carp streamers will be flying till Wednesday, May 6^th, the end of Golden Week. Koinobori, meaning “carp streamer”, are carp-shaped wind socks traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate Tango no Sekku, a traditional calendrical event which is now designated a national holiday; Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi). These wind socks are made by drawing carp patterns on paper, cloth or other nonwoven fabric, which are then allowed to flutter in the wind..

Children’s Day takes place on May 5^th, the last day of the Golden Week, the largest break for workers and also a week in which many businesses usually close for up to 9–10 days. Landscapes across Japan are decorated with koinobori from April to early May, in honor of sons for a good future and in the hope that they will grow up healthy and strong.

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