Editing Tanabata (section)

== Sendai festival ==
The [[Sendai, Miyagi|Sendai]] Tanabata Festival is the most famous in Japan. Tanabata has been celebrated in the region since the time of Date Masamune (1567–1636) who was the first [[daimyo|warlord]] in the Sendai area.<ref name="JNTO">{{Cite web |url=https://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/festival/sendaitanabata.html |title=Sendai Tanabata Matsuri |publisher=Japan National Tourism Organization |language=en |access-date=2018-07-05 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The 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 World War I, volunteers in Sendai revived the festival in 1928 and established the tradition of holding the festival from 6 to 8 August.

During 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 [[Hirohito|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 [[Tōhoku region]] and has become a major [[tourism in Japan|tourist attraction]].  The festival now includes a [[fireworks]] show that is held on 5 August.

At the Sendai Tanabata Festival, people traditionally use seven different kinds of decorations, which each represent different meanings. The seven decorations and their symbolic meanings are:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/guide-to-japan/gu008003/ |title=Sendai's Tanabata Matsuri: Four Centuries of Vivid Colors |date=2018-06-09 |website=Nippon Communications Foundation |language=en |access-date=2018-07-05}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Tanzaku.jpg|{{Nihongo|Paper strips|短冊|Tanzaku}}: Handwritten wishes for a good future to the earth and a thanks note 
File:Hanging kamigoromo.jpg|{{Nihongo|Paper kimono|紙衣|Kamigoromo}}: Paper decoration
File:TanabataOrizuru.jpg|{{Nihongo|Paper crane|折り鶴|Orizuru}}: Origami decoration for long life
File:Kinchaku.jpg|{{Nihongo|Purse|巾着|Kinchaku}}: Decoration for good business
File:Toami.jpg|{{Nihongo|Net|投網|Toami}}: Paper decoration for good fishing
File:Kuzukago.jpg|{{Nihongo|Trash bag|くずかご|Kuzukago}}: Paper decoration for cleanliness
File:TanabataStreamer.jpg|{{Nihongo|Streamers|吹き流し|Fukinagashi}}: Paper tubular streamer for improved weaving skills
</gallery>
The ornamental ball (薬玉; [[Kusudama]]) often decorated above streamers in present-day Tanabata decorations was originally conceived in 1946 by the owner of a shop in downtown Sendai. The ball was originally modeled after the [[dahlia]] flower. In recent years, box-shaped ornaments have become popular alternatives to the ornamental ball. Since 2018, streamers inspired by the costumes of the [[List of Olympic medalists in figure skating|two-time Olympic]] [[figure skating]] champion [[Yuzuru Hanyu]] have been on display at the [[Zuihōden]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://artexhibition.jp/topics/news/20240803-AEJ2248273/|title=【羽生結弦さん情報】「notte stellata」の衣装モチーフ吹き流しを8月6日(火)～8日(木)に瑞鳳殿（仙台）で公開 ([Information about Yuzuru Hanyu] Streamers featuring the costume motif from "Notte Stellata" will be on display at Zuihoden (Sendai) from August 6th (Tue) to 8th (Thu) - in Japanese)|first= |last= |work= Art Exhibition Japan|date= August 3, 2024}}</ref>