TORIDORI SEASONAL LETTER 03.

Tanabata: Japanese star festival

七夕

2025 July 7 - 10

Hi, friends! How are you doing? 

To add a spoonful of seasonality in your tea cup, I am writing a small seasonal letter every month. This time, it is a special edition featuring "Tanabata (七夕)" — July 7, the day of making your wishes upon stars. 

This special day is related to the old legend about the lovers in the night sky — Orihime (織姫, representing the star Vega) and Hikoboshi (彦星, representing the star Altair). They are separated by the great river Amanogawa (天の川, representing the Milkey way), but on July 7, they can cross the bridge to see each other.

In Japan, this is the day make a wish upon a star by writing on colorful paper strips called "tanzaku (短冊)" and hanging them on bamboos. Bamboos are one of the holy plants in Japanese tradition, symbolizing life.

May your wishes come true!

Erina