Category Archives: Festival

Tanabata: The Wish Festival 7

Tanabata is a popular celebration in Japan which is, in modern times, held on the the first weekend of July. Also known as wish festival, Tanabata is derived from the Chinese star festival, Qi Xi (七夕 “The Night of Sevens”).
It celebrates the meeting of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair). According to legend, the Milky Way, [...]

Novena Mass in Basilica del Sto. Niño Church 0

Basilica del Santo Niño is a 16th century church in Cebu City in the Philippines. It is known to be the oldest church in the Philippines. It was built on the exact spot where the image of the Santo Niño, a sculpture depicting the Holy Child Jesus was founded by Spanish explorers in 1565 preserved [...]

Halloween in Japan: Kawaii or Kowai? 4

The annual Kawasaki Halloween Parade this year was held on October 31st. It is said to be one of the biggest Halloween parades in Japan. It was my second time to see the parade and I’m still quite impressed with the participants. Their costumes were amazing. They can described as either ‘kawaii’ or ‘kowai’.
In Japan, [...]

Hamaorisai Festival in Chigasaki 2

Hamaorisai Festival is held annually at Nishihama Beach in Chigasaki City. This is a summer festival where people take the mikoshi, or portable Shinto shrine, into the sea to please the god living in it. This year’s festival was held on the 20th of July, which is also the Umi-no-Hi (or the Ocean Day).
The festival [...]

Tanabata Festival 3

Tanabata was originally about a Chinese love story of a princess and a cowherd being separated by the king.  Traditionally in present-day Japan, people celebrate Tanabata by writing their wishes on colorful, small strips of paper called tanzaku…