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July 1st is the Day of Yama-biraki
“Yama Biraki” means the beginning of the mountaineering season in Japanese.
On 1 July, Mt. Fuji is opened to climbers, so they can climb the mountain.
There was much remaining snow, so volunteers got the snow off the route of the climb.
Many people in traditional costumes climb Mt. Fuji this day
to express their gratitude to the God of the
mountain.
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Japanese people have “Tanabata-Matsuri: The
Milky Way Festival” on July 7th.
The legend said that once a year on the evening of this day,
“Orihime: the Weaver Star (Vega)” in the west coast of the Milky Way
and “Ushikai: the Herdboy Star (Altair)”
in the east coast are allowed to meet each
other.
The Milky Way Festival originated from an old Chinese legend about the two
stars.
This romantic festival originated in China long ago and was bought to Japan
later.
To hold the Milky Way Festival, children decorate bamboo branches
with “Tanzaku (strips of colored papers) and
colorful Origami ornaments.
Children write their wishes on Tanzaku.
It has been said that these wishes will come true some day.
It is as beautiful as a Christmas tree.
The bamboo branches are placed at the front of door or under the eaves.
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The Tanabata Festival in Sendai is well-known
and they attract many spectators every year.
The Sendai Tanabata festival began shortly
after the city was founded in the early Edo Period.
The Tanabata festival gradually developed and became larger over the years.
Although the festival's popularity started to dwindle after the Meiji Restoration,
and almost disappeared during the economic depression
that occurred after the World War I, volunteers in Sendai revived the festival in 1928
and established the tradition of holding the
festival from August 6 to August 8.
During the World War II it was impossible to hold the festival,
and almost no decorations were seen in the city from 1943 to 1945,
but after the war, the first major Tanabata festival in Sendai was held in 1946,
and featured 52 decorations.
In 1947, the Showa Emperor Hirohito visited Sendai
and was greeted by 5,000 Tanabata decorations.
The festival subsequently developed into one of the three major summer festivals
in the Tohoku region and became a major tourist attraction.
The festival now includes a fireworks show
that is held on August 5.
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A Chugen or Ochugen is a gift sent from early summer to mid July to
someone to who you have a social obligation or
owe a favour.
The special Ochugen sales are held at department stores.
Assortments of canned food or sweets are mainly chosen for Ochugen.
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In Japan, Physalis alkekengi’s seeds are used as part of the Bon Festival
as offerings to guide the souls of the deceased.
Also, an annual market is dedicated to the flower called hōzuki-ichi
(Physalis alkekengi Outdoor Market) which occurs in Asakusa around Senso-ji
every year on July 9 and 10.
Many visitors come to this outdoor market to buy colorful and decorative potted
Hozuki.
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Marine Day (Umi no Hi), also known as "Ocean Day" or "Sea Day",
is a Japanese National Holiday celebrated on the third Monday in July.
The purpose of the holiday is to give thanks to the ocean's bounty
and to consider the importance of the ocean to
Japan as an island nation.
Many people take advantage of the holiday and summer weather to take a beach
trip.
Other ocean-related festivities are observed
as well.
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