Flying Carps

Hello and Welcome to Nipponcraft.com,

May 5th is Boys' Day in Japan, wishing boys' promotion in  future. As Boys' Day is drawing near, families who have boys and communities are setting up "flying carps" (Koinobori) as a celebration and custom. Carps  are the symbol of strength and promotion in Japan. In this season, you can see lots of carps decoration outside of houses.


I took the above photo in Hokuto-city in Yamanashi prefecture, 100 miles west of Tokyo. Officially, it is announced that the city set up 450 carps bundled in wires for Boys' Day celebration. These carps are made of nylon. They look as if swimming in the sky as winds blow.

How to get there: Drive through Chuo-do highway from Tokyo and get off the highway at Sudama interchange. Drive along route 141 up north about 20 minutes to find Mimani-Kiyosato drivers' station. This is where I took the photos.

Thank you,
- Ken, President
http://www.nipponcraft.com/