Kodomo no Hi: May 5, Japan’s Children’s Day

Kodomo no Hi, or “Children’s Day”, is celebrated every year on May 5 in Japan. It is a holiday dedicated to the health, joy and harmonious growth of children. Although this festival took its present form in 1948, it draws its origins from much older rites, deeply rooted in Japanese history and culture. Today, it is a privileged time to honour children — especially boys — while paying tribute to courage, family and tradition.

Historical origins of Kodomo no Hi

The festival of Kodomo no Hi is the heir ofTango no Sekku, one of the five seasonal festivals in Imperial Japan, known asGosekku. Introduced from China into the sixth century, this festival aimed to repel evil spirits by means of purification rituals, such as the laying of diiris or armoise branches on doors. Originally celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the lunar calendar, it was set on 5 May with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar at Meiji.

From the timeKamakura (1185–1333)In a society where military values were emphasized, the party was associated with boys. The samurai families then became accustomed to offering them symbolic armor to wish them strength and bravery. It was only after World War II in 1948 that the festival was renamed Kodomo no Hi and extended to all children, while retaining elements specifically related to boys.

Symbols and iconic decorations

Koinobori: flying carps

TheKoinoboriare probably the most visible symbol of Kodomo no Hi. These are carp-shaped air sleeves that are hung on masts in front of houses. Each carp represents one family member: a black carp for the father, a red for the mother, and additional carp for each child. Carp is an iconic animal in Japanese culture, combined with courage and perseverance, because of a legend that a carp swam against the current to turn into a dragon.

Kabuto and Gogatsu Ningyo

Families also display miniature samurai helmets calledkabuto (and figurines calledGogatsu Ningyorepresenting warriors or folk heroes. The most famous isKintaro (, a legendary child with superhuman strength, often represented in the company of a bear.

These objects are not mere toys: they symbolize strength, resilience and protection. In exposing these objects, parents express the wish that their child grow up healthy and safe.

Culinary Traditions of Children’s Day

The children’s party is also a gastronomic celebration. Many regional specialities are prepared for the occasion, often based on sticky rice and red beans, two lucky ingredients in Japanese culture.

Kashiwa mochi

In the Kanto region, we tasteKashiwa mochi: a mochi stuffed with red bean paste (anko) and wrapped in an oak leaf. The oak only loses its dead leaves after the appearance of news, it symbolizes the continuity of generations and family prosperity.

Chimaki

In Kansai, we consume theChimaki, another type of rice cake, steamed and wrapped in bamboo leaves. It can be sweet or salty, sometimes stuffed with meat or bamboo shoots, and recalls the Chinese origin of the party.

Kusa mochi

TheKusa mochiis a perfumed mochi with slang, known for its purifying properties. This type of mochi is popular in several regions for its medicinal and protective aspect.

Less known regional specialities

• Beko mochiin Hokkaido: mochi with rice powder and brown cane sugar.
• Sasa dangoNiigata: sageballs and red bean in bamboo leaves.
• Sasa makiYamagata: boiled gluant rice, often accompanied by kinako (sweet soya flour).
• Akumaki (in Kagoshima: rice sticking in a macerated bamboo leaf, eaten with sugar or honey.

Creative and fun activities for children

Kodomo no Hi is the opportunity to organize family activities: manufacturingKoinobori paper, cooking workshops, carp or kabuto drawings, reading traditional tales like that of Kintaro or Momotaro.

In schools and nurseries, children make their own decorations, often hanging from windows or taken home. It is also a time when parks host special events, with traditional games and food stands.

Link to the Japanese Imperial Calendar

Kodomo no Hi is one of theGosekku, the five traditional festivals of the Japanese calendar :

• Nanakusa no sekku (, January 7 : Feast of the Seven Herbs
• Hina MatsuriMarch 3: Girls’ Day or Dolls’ Day
• Tanabata (, July 7 : Festival of the stars
• Chōyō no sekku (, September 9 : Festival of chrysanthemum

The purpose of these celebrations was to strengthen the spiritual protection of children and to invoke good health through seasonal rituals. Kodomo no Hi, although modernized, retains this profound intention.

Modern dishes for a revisited party

The Japanese today like to reinterpret classics in more modern and playful forms, ideal for children:

• Koinobori sushi: makis or inari carp-shaped sushi, coloured with fish, vegetables or eggs.
• Shortcakes decorated: Japanese strawberry or rolled cakes decorated with strawberries and decorated as carps.
• Kabuto rollers: Fried spring rolls shaped like helmets, garnished with ham or cheese.
• Chirashi festive sushi: mix of wine rice, shrimp, scrambled vegetables and eggs carefully decorated.

These dishes add a contemporary and festive touch to the celebration, without losing the symbolic meaning of each ingredient.

Kodomo no Hi today: between tradition and family

Even though the festival was open to all children, it still has a coloration marked around the little boys, by its symbols and folklore. Young Japanese generations celebrate Kodomo no Hi more flexibly: some focus on decorations, others on family meals or manual activities.

In large cities such as Tokyo or Osaka, many public events are held in parks, museums or cultural centres. Thegiant koinobori hanging over rivers, workshops for making kabuto in origami or reading tales are all ways to educate children about their cultural heritage.

In the countryside, traditions are often more preserved: there are more decorations, family recipes transmitted over several generations, and temples can organize blessing rituals for children.

Kodomo no Hi is not just a day of celebration for children: it is a moment of transmission, symbolism and hope. Through the koinobori floating in the wind, the flavours of mochi and the memory of legends, Japan celebrates the growth, family and inner strength of those who will build the future. Whether living in Tokyo or in the province, this day reminds everyone of the importance of cherishing childhood and cultivating family ties in a changing world.

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