[For Kids] Fun Facts & Trivia Quiz about Koinobori (Carp Streamers)

lighterutatane
A person from the melodic hardcore boom generation who loves music, photography, and eating. I’ve been going to live houses for over 20 years. I’m at the age where summer festivals are starting to feel tough physically. I sometimes try shooting live photos and videos for MVs. I’m not great at English, so I often listen to straightforward Japanese rock that hits directly, but if someone recommends something, I’ll listen to anything—Western or Japanese—broadly and casually. I like cooking while listening to music; it’s a nice way to relieve stress.

In May, there’s a long holiday called Golden Week, and many families—both adults and children—look forward to it, don’t they?

On Children’s Day, which falls on the last day of Golden Week, you’ll often see koinobori (carp streamers) fluttering grandly against the blue sky all across Japan.

In this article, we’ll introduce trivia and fun quiz questions about koinobori.

They’re designed for children, but there are plenty of facts that even adults might not know.

Be sure to enjoy them together with your kids!

[For Kids] Fun Facts & Trivia Quiz about Koinobori (Carp Streamers) (11–20)

The roots of carp streamers in Japan lie in banner flags. True or false?

See the answer

◯

The roots of koinobori in Japan can be traced to legends from ancient China and to the banners raised during battles. Imitating those flags, they spread mainly among the samurai class in the Edo period as a way to pray for family safety and the healthy growth of boys. Later, they were adopted by ordinary households and evolved into the koinobori we know today.

Raise the rankinglower

utatane

Report a problem

The meaning of the streamer at the very top of the koinobori

Koinobori are one of the essential decorations for Children’s Day, and the sight of large carp dancing in the wind evokes a sense of strength and freshness.

But what meaning is carried by the part that isn’t the carp—the colorful windsock that flies above them? The colors of the windsock also have significance: they represent the elements of nature in the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, serving as a talisman to protect children.

It is also said to act as a marker for the gods.

Altogether, the windsock expresses the wish for protection over the home and the children.

Raise the rankinglower

kappamaki