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Apr 29 2004 2 Comments

Golden week goodness

Today, and then Saturday to Wednesday is Golden Week here in Japan. It’s basically 4 national holidays bunched together. Today for example is Green Day. A title that gives me the ahem, golden opportunity of making a joke linking it to the similarly named pop group. But at best it would be a lame effort. So I shall refrain.

Why it’s called Golden Week I don’t know, but it’s quite apt in that prices for hotels, flights, and holidays in general reach ridiculous levels. But for many people this is the only time they can get off work, so the travel companies have them by proverbials. A gold card for Golden Week would be very useful, if not essential.

But expensive as it may be to travel, it’s still time off work. Never something to be sniffed at. And also, as next Wednesday is Boys Day, there are lots of koinobori brightening up the landscape. These are kind of Koi Carp kites that represent the family. The bigger ones are the parents, and the smaller ones the kids. There admittedly is a lot more to it than that, but it’s too difficult to explain. And if I’m being honest, I’m not 100% sure myself. I’ve heard so many different variations I don’t know what is right or wrong. Are you buying that excuse?

But whatever the true meaning, they are always a welcome sight.

koinobori.jpg

Although this group that I came across must belong to a family that never got around to buying a TV. That’s a lot of kids!

lots_of_koinobori.jpg

Categorized: Culture, General

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. テッド says

    4/30/2004 at 10:49 am

    And the Chikan Tomo-no-Kai will be hosting ” The Golden Gropers Championship Week” all week long.

    Reply
  2. テッド says

    4/30/2004 at 12:04 pm

    I think I was a bit redundant there at the end.

    Reply

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