Milky Way

The Milky Way is called “Milky Way” in English. Literally, it means “the road of milk,” and it was named after the Greek myth in which Hera’s milk was spilled. The Milky Way is especially easy to see on clear nights in July and August.

magpie

In the Tanabata legend, it is said that Orihime and Hikoboshi can cross the Milky Way to meet only once a year, and the birds that help by forming a bridge over the river are magpies. Magpies are birds known for their distinctive black and white feathers. On the night of Tanabata, many magpies are said to spread their wings and line up over the Milky Way, creating a bridge so the two lovers can meet—an enduringly romantic tale.

Opening of the mountain season

On Mount Fuji, the official climbing season opens in July. This “mountain opening” is a ceremony that marks the start of the season, when the snow has melted and the trails and mountain huts are officially opened. Because Mount Fuji attracts many climbers every year, this period draws particular attention. Once the season opens, the general public can also climb, so please enjoy your hike while making use of the available facilities.

Fumizuki (the traditional Japanese name for the month of July)

In the lunar calendar, July is called “Fumizuki.” There are several theories about the origin of this name: one suggests it evolved from “Hofumizuki,” meaning the month when rice ears begin to swell, while another points to the custom of exposing books to the evening breeze during Tanabata. The traditional month names in the lunar calendar are deeply tied to Japanese culture and the seasons, and they remain cherished words that evoke a sense of the seasons even today.

Brazil

In Brazil, Tanabata festivals are held as Star Festivals in places like São Paulo State, where there are many immigrants from Japan. In particular, in the Liberdade district of São Paulo, colorful decorations and tanzaku strips are used in keeping with Japanese traditions, delighting both locals and tourists. The local Tanabata festival has become a symbol of exchange between Japan and Brazil, showing that Japanese culture continues to be cherished even in the distant land of South America.

somen (thin Japanese wheat noodles)

There’s a custom of eating somen noodles on Tanabata. Tanabata is said to be a festival that came from China, where people ate a confection called sakubei. Over time, its form changed and is believed to have become somen. It’s also said that the shape of somen resembles the Milky Way, and that the thin, long noodles carry wishes for lasting health and good fortune.

eel

There’s a custom of eating eel on the Day of the Ox during the midsummer period. It’s said to have spread because, in the Edo period, eel shops promoted the idea that “foods starting with the syllable ‘u’ are good on the Day of the Ox.” There had already been a tradition of eating highly nutritious, stamina-boosting eel to stay healthy through Japan’s summer heat, but this explanation is considered the leading theory for why it became a standard practice.

the edge of the roof

In the lyrics of the children’s song “Tanabata-sama,” the word nokiba is written in kanji as 軒端 (nokiba). It refers to the part of a house’s roof that extends out beyond the wall—the edge or eaves of the roof. The image of bamboo leaves swaying at the nokiba vividly conveys the scene of Tanabata decorations.

Because I slacked off from work.

Orihime and Hikoboshi worked under orders from Orihime’s father. However, after they married, they began to neglect their work, which angered her father, and it is said he separated them to opposite banks of the Milky Way. If they work diligently, they are allowed to meet only once a year, and that day became Tanabata.

shaved ice

July 25 is considered Shaved Ice Day. The reason is that a nickname for shaved ice, “natsu-gōri” (summer ice), can be read as a wordplay on the numbers 7-2-5. Additionally, July 25, 1933, was the day when the highest temperature on record at the time in Japan was observed, so the day also carries the idea of cooling off by enjoying this classic summer treat.