[For Seniors] Celebrate Children's Day: Make Your Own Koinobori (Carp Streamers)
When talking about Tango no Sekku on Children’s Day, koinobori (carp streamers) come to mind.
Many families raise koinobori to wish for their children’s growth.
Along rivers and in parks, there are also events where you can enjoy countless koinobori swimming leisurely in the wide sky—beloved as a seasonal tradition of early summer in Japan.
Let’s try making koinobori by hand, something very familiar even to seniors.
We’ve gathered a variety of ideas, from easy ones made with origami or paper plates to more elaborate versions made with felt.
Koinobori that double as decorations also make perfect gifts for your grandchildren.
By all means, handcraft some koinobori and celebrate Children’s Day!
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[For Seniors] Celebrate Children's Day: Koinobori (Carp Streamer) Crafts (31–40)
Carp streamers made with chirimen (crepe) craft
Chirimen fabric is often leftover from cutting kimonos, and these days you can even find it at 100-yen shops.
Chirimen has a refined texture that’s both soft and supple.
Here’s how to make a carp streamer (koinobori) decoration using chirimen fabric.
Draw the koinobori pattern on the back side of the chirimen, then place another piece of chirimen of the same size on top.
Pin the two pieces so they don’t shift and sew them together.
Once you’ve finished sewing, trim the excess, turn it inside out, and stuff it with cotton.
Add the head, eyes, and fins to finish.
It’s a project that sewing-loving seniors can also enjoy making.
Hanging ornaments made with felt
Carp streamers swimming majestically across the sky are a familiar sight in May, aren’t they? Some older adults may have even raised carp streamers at their own homes.
Here’s a felt carp streamer craft that’s perfect for May and looks as if it’s really swimming.
Cut felt into the shape of a carp and attach felt scales.
We recommend using a hot glue gun, which dries quickly and has strong adhesion.
With a glue gun, you can make it without sewing.
If you also make and attach the five-color streamers and the pinwheel ornament, it will look even more wonderful.
To celebrate Children’s Day, you can also make felt kashiwa-mochi and hang them together.
Carp streamers made with felt and chirimen (crepe fabric)
Here’s an introduction to making carp streamers (koinobori) using felt and chirimen crepe fabric.
Cut the felt into the shape of a koinobori.
Cover it with a piece of chirimen fabric that’s larger than the felt and attach it with a hot glue gun.
Trim off the excess, then glue on another layer of felt to reinforce it.
Attach metallic yarn along the edge of the koinobori, and add the eyes and scales.
Cut it into the shape of a banner, attach a cord, and it’s done.
Koinobori made with colorful felt and patterned chirimen fabric look lovely.
Displaying them indoors might even prompt older adults to share stories related to koinobori.
A carp streamer with scales like Kashiwa-mochi
On Boys’ Day (Tango no Sekku), some older adults may also enjoy eating kashiwa-mochi.
Kashiwa-mochi is considered a lucky food, and eating it carries the hope that boys will grow up safely.
Let’s make a carp streamer (koinobori) with cute kashiwa-mochi scales.
Cut out kashiwa-mochi shapes from origami and create the carp streamer on construction paper.
This fresh idea—using kashiwa-mochi as the scales—seems like a craft that older adults will enjoy making.
You can display the finished piece on the wall, or attach a string and turn it into a lovely garland.
In conclusion
There are many seniors who used to celebrate by displaying carp streamers on Children’s Day.
Those living with their grandchildren may still put them up.
Handmade carp streamers, filled with heartfelt care, are items that warm the heart just by being displayed.
Be sure to include them in craft activities at senior facilities and enjoy celebrating Children’s Day!