• Top
  • Blog
    • Culture
    • Food
    • Hidden Gems
    • History
    • Nature
  • Events
  • Tours
    • OIRAN experience
    • Sacred Sake Tasting
    • Walking tour: Old Port Town Niigata
    • Sushi Making Master-Class
    • Japanese Pub Hopping Tour
    • Handcraft a unique Japanese wind-chime
    • Japanese Sake Tasting Lecture
    • Niigata Tourism Ambassadors
  • About Niigata
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • 025-365-1250

EDGE OF NIIGATA

  • Top
  • Blog
    • Culture
    • Food
    • Hidden Gems
    • History
    • Nature
  • Events
  • Tours
    • OIRAN experience
    • Sacred Sake Tasting
    • Walking tour: Old Port Town Niigata
    • Sushi Making Master-Class
    • Japanese Pub Hopping Tour
    • Handcraft a unique Japanese wind-chime
    • Japanese Sake Tasting Lecture
    • Niigata Tourism Ambassadors
  • About Niigata
  • About us
  • Contact us
EN / JP / TW
JP/TW
EDGE OF NIIGATA
  • Top
  • Blog
    • Culture
    • Food
    • Hidden Gems
    • History
    • Nature
  • Events
  • Tours
    • OIRAN experience
    • Sacred Sake Tasting
    • Walking tour: Old Port Town Niigata
    • Sushi Making Master-Class
    • Japanese Pub Hopping Tour
    • Handcraft a unique Japanese wind-chime
    • Japanese Sake Tasting Lecture
    • Niigata Tourism Ambassadors
  • About Niigata
  • About us
  • Contact us
EN / JP / TW
JP/TW

Blog

TOP > Blog > Culture > From ancient China to modern Japan: how Children’s Day evolved

From ancient China to modern Japan: how Children’s Day evolved

2022.05.10
Culture Food History

By Jenna Y.


Since 1948, Children’s Day has been celebrated in Japan on May 5th. Many people, with knowing smiles, rightly mention that the day used to be known as “Boy’s Day”. In fact, many traditions (more on those later) stem from the Kamakura Period (1185–1333), the days of the samurai. However, celebrations on May 5th have a much longer history!

Photo by https://www.instagram.com/standinglook/
Location: 弁天岩 Benten-iwa, Itoigawa, Niigata, Japan

Tango No Sekku (端午の節句)

In China, the original celebration is thought to date back to 300 BCE. The festival was known as Tango No Sekku – or Dragon Boat festival. According to legend, May 5th marks the anniversary of the death of a young and well-beloved warrior, minister, and poet. Since he was opposing the rulers of the time, spies snuck into the village where he was hiding and, through tricks and treachery, threw him into the river. Where he drowned.

The villagers, come out on the river bank. They threw sticky rice to the fish, so that they would leave the young man’s body alone, and set out on boats to look for him. The body was never found however. Later, his followers claimed that he had became a carp, climbed the nearby waterfall, and (in accordance with another Chinese legend) turned into a dragon that would seek revenge for his murder.

Carp climbing a waterfall.
Painting by Yoshu Chikanobu (Takada, Niigata, Japan)

Boy’s Day

Many traditions traveled from China and landed in Japan. Tango no Sekku also traversed the Sea of Japan in the 8th century. However, in the 12th century, with the rise of masculine and militaristic culture, the holiday evolved.

It became known as Boy’s Day and grew into a celebration of men in general and their masculine pursuits.

Over time, the old and the new mixed together. Judge for yourself, which modern traditions step from which time period.

Modern traditions

Carp Streamers (鯉のぼり)

They symbolize the ancient Chinese tale about a carp that was strong enough to go up a waterfall and as a result became a dragon. These colourful streamers represent strength and determination. They are often seen hanging above homes where there are young sons.

Over 500 colorful streamers wave over the Kamo River, in Niigata.

Gogatsu ningyo (五月人形)

This can be a miniature samurai doll (complete with armour and weapons) or simply a helmet. They represent strength and bravery, and are often displayed in households that have sons

Kashiwa-mochi (柏餅)

Soft sticky rice cakes stuffed with sweet red bears and wrapped in oak leaves.

Kashiwa mochi and green tea

Chimaki (粽)

Long sweet sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Sasa-dango (笹団子)

Even in the 16th century this sticky delicious dessert was considered the food of warriors. Reportedly, Uesugi Kenshin, a warlord in Niigata, tired these bamboo-leaf wrapped treats to his saddle to eat during long marches. Eating sasa-dango on Children’s Day is however, a tradition is unique to Niigata.

Jenna Y.

Twitter Facebook
[Previous post]
The Dragon of Echigo: Uesugi Kenshin
The Dragon of Echigo: Uesugi Kenshin
[Next post]
Shades of Niigata or “How to enjoy lunch and defeat racism with yakisoba”
Shades of Niigata or “How to enjoy lunch and defeat racism with yakisoba”
From ancient China to modern Japan: how Children’s Day evolved
Follow

Related entry

  • Discovering the dance and tradition of Onidaiko
    Discovering the dance and tradition of Onidaiko
    2023.01.10
  • A Mine to Remember
    A Mine to Remember
    2023.01.10
  • Salt and Love are in the air at Meotoiwa on Sado Island
    Salt and Love are in the air at Meotoiwa on Sado Island
    2023.01.10
  • The Dragon of Echigo: Uesugi Kenshin
    The Dragon of Echigo: Uesugi Kenshin
    2022.05.31
  • 【Exploring Sado Island】Tsuburosashi – the love triangle
    【Exploring Sado Island】Tsuburosashi – the love triangle
    2022.04.19

Access ranking

  • HINAMATSURI: the first spring celebration

    Culture 2021.03.03
  • The echo of OIRAN

    History 2020.06.12
  • Niigata Sake – What Makes It So Good?

    Food 2020.07.31
  • A Visit to the Northern Culture Museum

    Culture 2020.11.26
  • Discovering the dance and tradition of Onidaiko

    Culture 2023.01.10

New entry

  • Discovering the dance and tradition of Onidaiko

    Culture 2023.01.10
  • A Mine to Remember

    History 2023.01.10
  • Salt and Love are in the air at Meotoiwa on Sado Island

    History 2023.01.10
  • Unwinding at Iwanohara: the oldest vineyard in Japan

    Food 2022.08.10
  • The Dragon of Echigo: Uesugi Kenshin

    History 2022.05.31

Category

  • Culture
  • Food
  • Hidden Gems
  • History
  • Nature

Contact

Telephone

TEL025-365-1250
FAX025-228-4885

Business time 9:00~17:40 Japan time
Excluding weekends and holidays

Web

Contact us
EDGE OF NIIGATA
Blog
  • Culture
  • Food
  • Hidden Gems
  • History
  • Nature
Tour
  • OIRAN experience
  • Sacred Sake Tasting
  • Walking tour: Old Port Town Niigata
  • Sushi Making Master-Class
  • Japanese Pub Hopping Tour
About Niigata
  • Information
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
© 2019 ATAGO CORPORATION