Make a wish

Have always loved Tanabata, and I think this particular element of the old, Chinese legend celebrated here is my favourite -- all the wishes written out on colourful tanzaka and hung up all over. The only problem is when it rains heavily and the end up being littered all over the place.

The Tanabata festival is so colorful and vibrant and a time for people to make their wishes for the year ahead.

We made these today in class! I was astounded at the number of kids who wished for "my mother to stop being so angry."

Are you supposed to read them Tessa? I don't know. Kids do tend to exaggerate and a impatient raised voice is considered angry. I don't see the anger in public.

Are you supposed to read them Tessa?

Do you even live in Japan? Everyone's allowed to read them.

I don't see the anger in public.

That's the scary part. You would be shocked if you knew what really goes on behind closed doors. However I agree that many kids exaggerate, mine are probably just writing stuff like that to annoy their mothers. they're really funny kids!

No, I visit Japan. And yes, secrets, secrets, secrets.

"Just to annoy their mothers", manipulative little buggers. Whatch out, their scheeming on you.

@MarkG, I visit Japan a lot - two to three months a year now, for the past ten years - and I read a lot of what children and not-so-young people write on not only this type of decoration but also the little wooden tablets at shrines and temples. It's part of why they do it. @Tessa, I should visit your classroom, next trip - I've done that sort of thing every year for the past four, and love to see the kids' faces when we talk about what matters to them.

Watch out, they're scheming on you.

I'm one step ahead of them, did all that stuff at their age!

@Tessa, I should visit your classroom, next trip - I've done that sort of thing every year for the past four, and love to see the kids' faces when we talk about what matters to them.

I would be honoured!

May your wishes come true.

@Tessa, dai-suki for that. Itsumo sumimasen. There's an old CNY song, "Teach Your Children", that I can parse for them, if you wish. But in the meantime, and I know this is hard to translate it (I've tried with three teachers, one a university prof), may you have luck with it: "Miracles start to happen when you give as much energy to your dreams as you do to your fears." As close as I managed, it goes something like this: "Osore ni dewa naku kibou ni chikara wo tsukuse. sonotoki, kiseki ga hajimaru." When I tell them I was a rock star and show them how to play the bass as a fundamental part of the rhythm in a band, their wide-open eyes award me with all I need. Mata kimas, juu-gatsu. Sendai, and wherever you take me. :-)