 Most viewed - Sendai 仙台市 |
Held annually during Aug. 6-8, the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri is Japan's largest, grandest, and most famous Tanabata Festival. Commonly called the Star Festival, Tanabata Matsuri features large colorful, streamer decorations (called take-kazari).613 views
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JR Sendai Station on the west side (Nishi-guchi). This is the main side. There is a tourist information office inside the station where you can pick up maps and pamphlets, maybe in English too.376 views
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You could write a wish on the paper and hang it on the bamboo branch. I wrote "Live long and prosper."325 views
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City of trees on a main road in Sendai.297 views
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In the Shimin Hiroba was also this space.284 views
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Many girls (and kids) dressed in yukata (cotton kimono) came to see the Tanabata Festival. Her facial reaction was typical.275 views
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My YouTube video of Sendai Tanabata featuring the festival eve on Aug. 5, 2009 when they had fireworks and the morning of Aug. 6 when they were setting up the Tanabata decorations. 269 views
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Street lamp262 views
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Hip hop258 views
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The take-kazari bamboo decorations were marvelous. A myriad of designs and variety. Paper was the main material used to make all these decorations, unlike the predominant plastic found at other Tamabata Festivals in Japan.253 views
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On the morning of Aug. 6, the first day of Sendai Tanabata, shop owners started to set up their tanabata bamboo decorations from around 8 am to 9 am.249 views
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Sendai Castle's Waki-yagura turret at the site of Otemon Gate. Reconstructed in 1965. We cannot enter it. 脇櫓240 views
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Hirose River, teeming with wildlife.234 views
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Statue of Lord Date Masamune at Sendai Castle's Honmaru. 231 views
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Waki-yagura turret at Sendai Castle.229 views
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Statue of Lord Date Masamune at Sendai Castle's Honmaru. One of the most popular and famous samurai of all time.228 views
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Tiny origami paper cranes. Guess how many paper cranes there are? Over 1 million.225 views
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If you look closely, you can that see one of his eyes is blind.223 views
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My YouTube video of Sendai Tanabata featuring Tanabata decorations and seeing the evening entertainment (Awa Odori, Tanabata dancers, etc.) on Jozenji-dori during 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. 223 views
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This was my second time to see Sendai Tanabata. The first time was quite some time ago. I had high expectations, and I was not disappointed.217 views
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View from Sendai Castle's Honmaru. Sendai has over a million people. On clear days, you can also see the Pacific Ocean.209 views
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A short walk from Jozenji-dori is the Shimin Hiroba (Citizens' Square) where there was a stage for more entertaining performances by numerous groups. The program started at 6 pm and ended at 8:45 pm.201 views
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Inside Sendai Station's west side. A great greeting for visitors to Sendai during Tanabata Matsuri.175 views
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In Sendai, famous daimyo Date Masamune had the warrior and merchant classes observe the Star Festival. 174 views
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Eye-catching trio of yukata-clad girls.173 views
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This decoration had little owl-shaped paper balloons. These girls are blowing air into the balloons with a straw. Sendai Tanabata.167 views
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The festival is said to have originated from a Star Festival in China. According to Chinese legend, east of the Milky Way there was a Heavenly King whose daughter worked as a weaver. However, when she married a herdsman, she quit weaving. 164 views
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Many of the Tanabata streamers are quite commercial, with sponsors prominently displayed on the streamers.155 views
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The yukata has become quite modern. You no longer have to put your hair up when wearing one.150 views
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I arrived in Sendai on Aug. 4, 2009, two days before the festival, and Sendai Station here was already decorated with these huge tanabata streamers. Very impressive.149 views
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Map of Sendai Castle site. It's quite a large site, with museums and other facilities occupying the former castle site. The Honmaru (partially hidden) is on the right of the map.149 views
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Lucky Alex...148 views
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This angered her father who banished the herdsman to the other side of the Milky Way. He allowed the two to meet only once a year on the evening of the seventh day of the seventh month (according to the lunar calendar). 146 views
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It's nearly impossible to define or describe an outstanding decoration, but you know it when you see it.146 views
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Route of the Sendai Loop bus. Get off at Sendai-joshi to see Sendai Castle. The bus will take you all the way to the top of the hill where the castle is. Much easier than walking up.145 views
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On Aug. 4, two days before the start of Tanabata Festival, the shopping arcades already had these bamboo poles with ropes set up.144 views
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Sendai International Center142 views
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Entrance to Tsutsujigaoka Park in Sendai, Miyagi. The park is near Tsutsujigaoka Station on the JR Senseki Line, one stop from Sendai Station.141 views
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The pedestrian overpass connected to Sendai Station is also decorated.139 views
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Attaching the ball to the body of the decoration.138 views
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People who wear yukata know how to enjoy each of Japan's seasons.138 views
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Korean performers.136 views
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Waki-yagura turret at the site of Otemon Gate.136 views
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Bottom of the paper cranes.135 views
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Statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga, a samurai retainer of Date Masamune who sent him to the Vatican in 1613. 支倉常長135 views
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Miyagi-ken Gokoku Shrine in Sendai Castle. Emperor Hirohito as well as Crown Prince Akihito (current emperor) visited this shrine to pay their respects. 宮城縣護國神社135 views
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These people are spreading the wings of the origami cranes.133 views
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During the Tohoku Industrial Expo in 1928, the forerunner of today's Tanabata Festival was held. Sendai merchants strived to uphold the tradition, resulting in today's elaborate and gaudy Tanabata decorations.132 views
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This is the Hapina Nakakecho arcade. "Hapina" stands for "Heartful Amenity Place Interfaced Natural Arcade." It also refers to "happy." When the Japanese create a new name, they love puns.132 views
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Pieces of bamboo hung from the ropes on bamboo poles.131 views
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About the Otemon Gate.131 views
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Statue of Lord Date Masamune at Sendai Castle's Honmaru. Very popular for picture-taking.131 views
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Small museum in Honmaru showing results of excavation work and stone wall reconstruction. 131 views
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Sendai Castle's Honmaru.130 views
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The shopping arcades on the west side of Sendai Station is where the Tanabata decorations are. The main arcades where you can see the streamers are basically on two arcade roads: Chuo-dori and Ichibancho-dori. They intersect at a T-intersection.129 views
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Setting up Tanabata bamboo decorations.129 views
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Sendai Tanabata Fireworks on Aug. 5, 7:30 pm to 9 pm. It was impressive. The theme was "Ring of Love."129 views
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Miyagi-ken Gokoku Shrine enshrines Miyagi Prefecture's war dead since 1868. There are over 56,000 war dead.129 views
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The weaver is represented by the Vega star and the herdsman by the Altair star. As a prayer to produce better arts and crafts, the Imperial Court and the warrior class paid homage to these two stars from ancient times. This practice spread to the masses.128 views
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Nishi Park in Sendai is full of people on fireworks night.128 views
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Tanabata decorations outside S-PAL, a shopping complex next to Sendai Station.128 views
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Inside Sendai Station, heading to train platforms.128 views
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According to the legend, the original date of Tanabata is July 7 according to the lunar calendar which is about a month behind the calendar we use today. Some places hold the festival on July 7 to match the original, numeric date.127 views
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Local cheerleaders included these kids.126 views
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Inside Sendai Station is a large information booth where you can obtain maps and pamphlets of Sendai and Tanabata Matsuri.126 views
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Tanabata decorations at the entrance of Sendai Station.126 views
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Subway train in Sendai.126 views
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Sendai Castle site's torii. The torii is here because there's a Shinto shrine in Honmaru.126 views
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The decorations can cost thousands of dollars or even tens of thousands of dollars (US$). (Hundreds of thousands of yen or a few million yen.) 125 views
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It rained sometimes during the Tanabata Festival since the Tohoku region was still in the rainy season.125 views
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Kids loved to jump and try to touch the streamers.125 views
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The area has these nice multi-lingual plaques explaining the points of interest with a map included.125 views
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Honmaru northern stone wall.125 views
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Female lover in heaven124 views
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Morning rush hour at Sendai Station. People heading for the exit inside Sendai Station.124 views
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Map of the original Sendai Castle also called Aobajo or Aoba Castle since the castle is on Aobayama or Mt. Aoba. Sumo fans might know the name Aobajo, a sumo wrestler from Sendai active in the 1980s.124 views
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Origami paper cranes is actually one type of Tanabata decorations. Many decorations had paper cranes as you can see here.123 views
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One bamboo pole has several decorations and each one hangs on a rope.123 views
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The streamers can also be quite hypnotizing if not captivating.123 views
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Tanabata Matsuri is held in many parts of Japan, usually in shopping arcades to draw customers. The more famous ones are in Hiratsuka in Kanagawa and Asagaya in Tokyo.123 views
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This is Sun Mall Ichibancho. This Ichibancho-dori road is also straight, but consists of three seamless shopping arcades: Sun Mall Ichibancho, Brand Dome Ichibancho, and Ichibancho Yon-chome.123 views
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Kamikaze suicide fighter pilot memorial next to a war museum within the shrine.123 views
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Write your wish on a paper tag and affix it to the bamboo branch.122 views
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Organizations who made the 1 million+ paper cranes. About 25,000 people from all over Japan from age 5 to 103 made over 1 million paper cranes. That's an average of 40 cranes per person.122 views
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Trains in Tohoku have a door open/close button to save on air-conditioning or heating.122 views
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Site of Nenomon Gate. This leads to Sendai City Museum in the castle area called Sannomaru. 子門122 views
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Next to the Honmaru northern stone wall is this large torii gate and steps going up to the Honmaru, the castle's central keep. This place in front of the torii was a parking lot before. Glad that parking is no longer allowed here.122 views
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The Chuo-dori arcade is about 750 meters long. Although this arcade is a straight and continuous road, it is actually consists of three seamless arcades named Hapina Nakakecho (ハピナ名掛丁), Clis Road, and Marble Road Omachi.121 views
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You can see Tanabata in various locations (smaller scale) in Japan such as Hiratsuka in Kanagawa held around July 7 and Asagaya and Fussa in Tokyo around Aug. 7.121 views
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During the morning of Aug. 6 the first day, a team of judges wearing a white cap and yellow shirt proceed through the decorations for judging. Dressed in pink is the back is one of the three Sendai Goodwill Ambassadors (not Miss Tanabata).121 views
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Sendai City Loop bus goes to the major tourist spots in Sendai. Most convenient to get to Sendai Castle. 250 yen per ride or 600 yen for a day pass.121 views
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From the city, this is what the castle site looks like on Aobayama. You can see the lookout deck.121 views
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Monument for the war dead.121 views
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It's also possible to walk to the park from Sendai Station, about 20 min.121 views
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By 10 am on the first day of Aug. 6, most all of the Tanabata decorations were set up. Large crowds soon followed.120 views
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These decorations cannot be massed produced, all one of a kind.120 views
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Stone wall at the site of Otemon Gate.120 views
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About the Waki-yagura turret.120 views
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As you climb up the Aobayama, you pass through the sites of former gates. This one was Nakanomon Gate. 中門120 views
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Sample stone work on a castle wall.120 views
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This road was filled with people as well for the fireworks.119 views
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Interview by local TV.119 views
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The decorations are given awards such as the Gold and Silver Awards. The winners are announced later in the day, and the winning decorations are tagged with the awards. This is the Gold Award.119 views
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Gold Award + Outstanding Award.119 views
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Statue of Hasekura Tsunenaga acros the road from the Waki-yagura.119 views
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Monument for Doi (Tsuchii) Bansui who created the song, "Kōjō no tsuki" (荒城の月 lit. "Moonlit castle ruins") which is about Sendai Castle. 土井 晩翠119 views
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Origami paper cranes.118 views
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The crowd take pictures in front of this Outstanding Award decoration.118 views
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After the festival ends, many of these decorations are discarded. But some are donated to a shopping arcade in Fukuoka (Kyushu). 118 views
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Hoisting up the bamboo support pole.118 views
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Goshikunuma Swamp is a moat of Sannomaru.118 views
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Sculpture in Sannomaru.118 views
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View from Sendai Castle's Honmaru.118 views
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People were amazed at these cranes. This is one type of streamer you won't see at other Tanabata Festivals in Japan.117 views
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Inside Sendai subway train.117 views
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About the Honmaru northern stone wall.117 views
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Sendai's shopping arcades were obviously designed for tanabata decorations. There are eyelets or hooks for ropes on the ceiling.116 views
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This large tanabata bamboo was being set up on Aug. 4.116 views
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It says "No More Hiroshima."116 views
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Another crowd favorite was these streamers made of tiny origami paper cranes. 115 views
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Fujisaki's decoration is at the T-intersection between Chuo-dori and Ichibancho-dori.115 views
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Outside Sendai Station, they are constructing the Tozai subway line due to open in 2015.115 views
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Climb further and you'll reach large stone walls, called the Honmaru northern stone wall. 115 views
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Kids writing their wishes.114 views
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Peace message.114 views
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Silver Award. Besides awards for individual decorations, awards are given to the shopping arcade as a whole for the bext decorations.114 views
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The decorations usually arrive in huge plastic bags, especially the outdoor ones. This is the Fujisaki decoration.114 views
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Attaching ropes. The decorations will later be attached to these ropes.114 views
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Perhaps she wished for a rich husband.114 views
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View from Sendai Castle's Honmaru.114 views
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These are original Edo Period stones removed when the stone wall was renovated. These stones could not be reused.114 views
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About the sample stone walls.114 views
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These photos were taken in early May 2012.114 views
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Male lover in heaven113 views
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No smoking in the shopping arcades.113 views
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This was the 34th Tanabata Decoration of Peace. Aug. 6, the first day of the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, also happens to be the anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing.113 views
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Hapina arcade113 views
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Extravagant Award113 views
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Closeups of one of the best take-kazari of 2009.113 views
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Also in the Honmaru area is Gokoku Shrine decorated here during the Tanabata Star Festival in early Aug. 宮城縣護國神社113 views
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The walls also have eyelets/hooks for ropes to support the bamboo poles.112 views
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When the decorations are unpacked or unraveled, they are freshened up. 112 views
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Types of tanabata decorations.112 views
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On the evening of Aug. 5, the Tanabata Festival Eve, a fireworks display is held at Nishi Koen Park. Here are many girls in yukata waiting for friends at Sendai Station to see the fireworks.112 views
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Corner of Honmaru northern stone wall.111 views
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Honmaru is a large flat area overlooking central Sendai. This was where the castle palace was, the castle lord's actual residence.111 views
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Date Masamune110 views
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This one was clearly a crowd favorite, and not surprisingly, it won the Outstanding Award.110 views
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Waki-yagura as seen from afar.110 views
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Sendai Castle marker110 views
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Travel photos (Matsushima)109 views
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The original Otemon Gate was here, between the Waki-yagura on the right and stone wall on the left.109 views
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Lookout point on Sendai Castle's Honmaru.109 views
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Sample stone work on a castle wall.109 views
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Marble Road Omachi108 views
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Tanabata appeals to all ages, from little kids to grandmothers.108 views
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Regular-size paper cranes.107 views
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Bottom view107 views
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In Sun Mall Ichibancho, a traditional kami-shibai picture card story was told.107 views
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Many decorations are really advertisements. But others have no ads and they are splendid. Keep in mind that the Tanabata Festival was started by local merchants, so it has commercial roots. It's not a religious event.107 views
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Bus stop outside Sendai Station.107 views
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Votive tablets for sale at Gokoku Shrine. Special tanabata ones during early Aug.107 views
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A nice long row of weeping cherry trees at Tsutsujigaoka Park, Sendai.107 views
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Drilling106 views
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Where I was, Tokushima Awa Odori dancers performed first.105 views
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Tokushima Awa Odori dancers at Sendai Tanabata Matsuri Festival.105 views
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Ichiban-cho Yon-chome arcade is outdoors.105 views
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Subway stations on the existing subway line in Sendai.105 views
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Triangular stones are used.105 views
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Sun Mall104 views
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Sendai subway station104 views
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Puppets103 views
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Milky Way streamers decorated the road.103 views
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Also here is a cramped enclave of many little bars and shops.102 views
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At night.102 views
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On escalators in Sendai, they stand on the right side. (Not on the left side as in Tokyo.)102 views
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I was too late for the Somei Yoshino trees.102 views
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For people outside Japan wanting to make tanabata decorations for a Japan event, let these photos give you some design ideas.101 views
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Koi fish made of tiny balls stuck onto the paper.101 views
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There is no longer a Tanabata Parade in the evening. Instead of a parade, there are various performances at several areas on the main street of Jozenji-dori during 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm every evening during Aug. 6-8.101 views
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