Little-Known Trivia and Fun Facts About Koinobori (Carp Streamers)
As Children’s Day on May 5 approaches, we see carp streamers (koinobori) more and more often here and there.
Traditionally, many families have the custom of displaying them when a baby boy is born.
These days, however, due to housing conditions and the like, we don’t see many large ones anymore, but there are more compact versions you can display indoors and designs with a stronger decorative flair.
In this article, we’ll share some trivia and fun facts related to koinobori.
You might find yourself thinking, “Come to think of it, I didn’t know that…”—they’re great conversation starters once you do.
If you have children, try talking together as a family about the roots of koinobori.
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[Surprisingly Little-Known] Trivia & Fun Facts About Koinobori (Carp Streamers) (11–20)
The roots of the carp streamers trace back to the Chinese legend of the Dragon Gate.
Carp streamers swimming majestically in the clear May sky.
Families with boys and even parks may display carp streamers, right? Do you know why we put up carp streamers? It actually originates from the Chinese legend of the Dragon Gate.
In the upper reaches of China’s Yellow River, there is a Dragon Gate where raging rapids overlap, and ordinary fish cannot ascend.
However, it was said that fish that managed to climb it to the end would gain spiritual power and become dragons.
From this, overcoming great hardships and difficulties to become a fully fledged person came to be called “passing through the Dragon Gate” in China.
Later, in Japan around the Edo period, people raised carp-shaped banners in their yards to pray for children’s healthy growth and future success.
This is said to be the beginning of the carp streamers.
The current lifespan of carp streamers is about 2–3 years for nylon material and around 6–8 years for polyester.
I think many families buy koi-shaped streamers when a baby boy is born, but when you’re choosing ones to display outdoors, it can be hard to decide which material is best.
Basically, koinobori come in nylon and polyester.
Polyester lasts longer—about six to eight years.
It costs a bit more than nylon, but it’s more resistant to water and less prone to fading from sunlight, so if you want to use them for a long time, polyester might be the better choice.
Nylon streamers will last about three years, too.
Koinobori are for Tango no Sekku (the Boys’ Festival) and are distinct from Children’s Day.
Tango no Sekku (the Boys’ Festival) and Children’s Day both fall on May 5, so they’re often confused.
However, Tango no Sekku is a traditional event that celebrates the birth of boys and prays for their growth, while Children’s Day is a national holiday that celebrates the health and growth of all children regardless of gender.
And koi nobori (carp streamers) are decorations specifically for Tango no Sekku.
In households without boys, people may celebrate Children’s Day but are less likely to display koi nobori, so families with boys might be more prone to mixing the two up.
Since they’re on the same day, some people may not realize they’re different.
Let’s take this opportunity to remember the distinction.
On average, many households stop putting up decorations when their children are around 10 years old.
Koinobori are displayed with the wish that children will grow up healthy, but it seems many families stop putting them up when their children are around 10 years old.
There isn’t a clear rule like “You must stop at such-and-such an age.” However, in Japan there’s a saying that “until age seven, children belong to the gods,” so many families display them at least until age seven.
Some children look forward to the koinobori every year.
In that case, don’t worry about age—go ahead and put them up.
The “magoi” and “higoi” mentioned in the children’s song Koinobori are the same species of carp, differing only in pigmentation.
Magoi are black, while higoi are red, right? At first glance they seem like different kinds of carp, but they’re actually the same species! It’s said that higoi are a mutation of magoi.
Because they have less melanin pigment, their body color appears lighter.
Indeed, in the children’s song “Koinobori,” the magoi is the father and the higoi is the child.
It would be a bit surprising if parent and child were different species, wouldn’t it? By the way, the well-known nishikigoi (koi carp) were bred by selectively refining this higoi.