Kodomo No Hi

May 5th is known as Kodomo No Hi or boys day. Everywhere you look here you see these colorful, fish streamers. They are hanging from businesses, homes, and over rivers. These pictures were taken at Hiji River. There was a festival earlier in the day that we missed. We couldn't find the parking area, and by the time we made it down there all the vendors were packing up. Thats ok though, 100yen to play 1 silly game isn't my style anyhow.
These streamers
On to the Culture lesson of the day...
Japanese families with sons hang these carp shaped koinobori streamers outside their homes. The traditional set (as the one we have) has three carp. One for the father, one for the mother, and one for the son. The holiday is a day to honor sons, and to pray they grow up healthy.