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Koi!
Koinobori!

Boys' Day is just around the corner (May 5th), and that can mean only one thing -- koinobori!  My first encounter with koinobori (carp streamers) was in my high school Japanese class a couple years ago.  Our sensei had us fly koinobori of various sizes around the football field in order to celebrate the Boys' Day festival (although I must admit I spent more time trying to wear the largest of the koinobori as a "fishsuit" than anything else, "dame kunihiko san! dame!").  Shelly gave me my very own koinobori last year, and another one of greater size this year.  Although neither are large enough to fit over my body, both are worthy of being hoisted from my bedroom ceiling.

I'd like to offer my own explaination of the koinobori's significance in commemorating Boys' Day, but the leaflet included with my newest koinobori does a much better job:

In Japan, carp streamers are traditionally flown on May 5, Boys' Day.  Flying carps are hoisted onto poles that reach up into the blue sky for several weeks around May 5.  The flying carp symbolizes courage and ambition recognizing a tale of a carp that once swam all the way to heaven to become a dragon.

Maybe Shelly will elaborate on the tale for me...  Happy Boys' Day!
-Kynan (04.26.2000)

What c_i_p_h_e_r said: "cinco de mayo (may 5th) is late this year"

Related Links

"Watch Out for the Koinobori"
A super-cool Minna No Tabo comic strip

Boys' Day - The Island of Hawaii
A Boys' Day festival explaination pertaining to Hawaii specifically, with hotlinked terms throughout.