Translation guide
The Star Festival (Tanabata) is a Japanese summer festival celebrating the annual meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by the stars Vega and Altair. It is observed on July 7th or around August 7th, with colorful decorations, wishes written on tanzaku strips, and various local events.
Referring to the traditional Japanese celebration of Tanabata, including its customs, date, and atmosphere.
The standard Japanese name for the Star Festival. Use this in most contexts when talking about the festival itself.
Tanabata is on July 7th.
I wrote a wish on a tanzaku for Tanabata.
Emphasizes the festival aspect. Use when talking about a specific Tanabata event or celebration.
The Sendai Tanabata Festival is famous.
Literally 'star festival'. Can refer to Tanabata or other star-related festivals. Less common and may require context.
In this region, they celebrate Tanabata as a star festival.
Talking about the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi, the celestial lovers separated by the Milky Way.
Describing the act of writing wishes on colorful paper strips (tanzaku) and hanging them on bamboo branches.
Referring to the colorful paper decorations, streamers, and bamboo displays associated with Tanabata.
Tanabata decorations. The general term for all the ornaments.
Beautiful Tanabata decorations are displayed in the shopping street.
Streamers. The long, colorful paper streamers that represent weaving threads or the Milky Way.
Bamboo grass. The plant on which decorations and tanzaku are hung.
While Tanabata is officially July 7th, many regions celebrate it around August 7th due to the lunar calendar. The famous Sendai Tanabata Festival is held in August.
Tanabata is not a public holiday in Japan. It is a traditional festival, so businesses and schools operate normally unless it falls on a weekend.
We went to the Star Festival and wrote our wishes.
The Star Festival decorations were beautiful.
The story of Orihime and Hikoboshi is romantic, isn't it?
吹き流しが風に揺れています。
The streamers are swaying in the wind.
We tie tanzaku to the bamboo grass.