Koinobori at Shirohige Park

Shirohige Park in Tokyo. Photos taken early May.

More on koinobori (carp streamers) here.

The largest housing project I have ever seen, with 18 buildings.

Koinobori at Kasai Seaside Park

Koinobori Season

My favorite late April to early May sight: the carp streamers (koinobori) flying in front of houses and parks. They are put up for Children's Day (May 5) every year, and generally taken down fairly soon after.

I suppose that with only 13.4% of the population under the age of 15, there are a lot less carp streamers decorated in front of houses these days. 

That said, it is still a familiar sight, though it's much less common to see the more extravagant streamers with multiple fish hanging in front of a single home. I miss seeing them.

 

There are certain areas around the country that are famed for their koinobori decorations. In Gunma Prefecture, around 1000 carp are strung across a park in rows, and Tochigi City is famous for its decorations too. In Tokyo, both Tokyo Tower and Sky Tree display around 400 carp, vying to be the top destination. Koinobori knick-knacks, made from kimono silk.

Can you spot the two apartments that have put up koinobori in this picture?

A Parade of Koi

Koinobori season again.

A temple in Tawaramachi.

In Kappabashi, a kappa (a mythical sinister water creature) carries his own carp streamers.


Same goes for this old man, standing guard in front of a Korean restaurant in Iidabashi.

Fish that Fly

Koinobori (carp streamers) flown in honor of Children's Day, a day to celebrate children and wish for their happiness and general well-being. This one was in front of someone's house in Sakura, in Chiba prefecture.

The koinobori range from abbreviated versions with only two carp, to extralong streamers that stretch across bridges, like this one in Katsutadai, in Chiba. In their own way, they denote the families with children. With the decreasing population, there is a sense of comfort in seeing these carp blowing in the wind, fastened to apartment balconies or someone's rooftop antenna.