Here are some thoughts that NILS students shared about the Tanabata Festival.

🌟 Participating in the Tanabata Festival – A Wonderful Experience at NILS

Today, we participated in the Tanabata Festival held at NILS. Tanabata is one of Japan’s traditional festivals, celebrated annually on July 7th. It is based on a romantic legend about two stars, Orihime (the weaving princess) and Hikoboshi (the cowherd). Separated by the Milky Way, they are only allowed to meet once a year—on the night of Tanabata.

The Tanabata Festival at NILS was a very special opportunity for us to experience Japanese culture firsthand.

Writing Wishes on Tanzaku

One of the most memorable parts of the festival was writing wishes on tanzaku—colorful strips of paper. We wrote our hopes and dreams such as, “I hope to become good at Japanese,” “May my family stay healthy,” and “I want to pass the JLPT exam.” Seeing the wishes gently swaying in the wind was truly beautiful. It made us want to clasp our hands together and hope that everyone’s dreams would reach the heavens.

The teachers also participated and wrote their wishes with heartfelt sincerity, such as ‘May all NILS students stay healthy’ and ‘May all NILS students be accepted into the colleges of their choice.

Experiencing Japanese Traditions

In addition to the tanzaku, we made decorations such as stars and streamers using origami and hung them on bamboo branches. Watching the decorations we made together fluttering in the breeze gave us a sense of accomplishment and helped us appreciate the aesthetic beauty of Japanese traditions.

We also sang Tanabata songs and watched a video about Orihime and Hikoboshi. Thanks to our kind teachers’ explanations, we were able to deeply understand the background and meaning of the story—it was very educational and moving.

To top it all off, we got to enjoy kakigōri (shaved ice), the perfect treat for a hot summer day. Everyone had a great time with big smiles on their faces.

What We Learned Through Tanabata

Through this Tanabata Festival, we learned that Japanese culture places great value on wishes, hopes, and heartfelt feelings. It wasn’t just about making decorations or enjoying a fun event—it was a meaningful time to reflect on our families, our friends, and our own futures.

The Tanabata Festival at NILS became an unforgettable and heartwarming memory for all of us. We hope to continue learning more about Japan’s traditions and to cherish these cultural experiences as we grow.