On the 5th day of the 5th month, Japan celebrates the national holiday Tango no Sekku or Boy’s Day. The day is officially known as Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day) to compensate for the fact that Girl’s Day, celebrated on the 3rd day of the 3rd month, is not a national holiday. A quick search of the literature, however, reveals that most people still refer to this holiday as Boy’s Day, and there is even a small minority that claims that the change is as ridiculous as changing Mother’s Day into Parent’s Day. The name change has had a positive effect, however—the carp banners (koinobori) which previously represented only boys in the household are often flown for girls as well.

Boy’s Day is said to have been celebrated for over a millenium, and as such, is rich with symbolism and history. The three main symbols of the holiday are 1) musha ningyo, or warrior doll, 2) koinobori, or carp banner, and 3) shobu, or iris flower.  Each represents a quality that boys of the family were and, to some extent, are expected to possess on their way to a bright and prosperous future.

Musha ningyo, or dolls dressed in traditional samurai armor, represent strength and bravery, at the same time reminding boys of the illustrious history of their country. The dolls, which take on the form of famous warriors, emperors or folk heroes of the past, are placed in a special alcove called the toko-no-ma, flanked by bows and arrows, swords, and other martial regalia. It is also common, however, to find the dolls accompanied by a miniature helmet, or kabuto, perched on a ceremonial stand. All of these replicas are remarkably detailed and are clothed in fine fabrics. The makers of such dolls were highly regarded in society, and it is said that it was not uncommon to find 9th or 10th generation dollmakers in Japan.

There are several theories about when and why this custom came about, from ancient Chinese rituals featuring ceremonial helmets and banners, to solemn memorials commemorating samurai era war victories, to resourceful farmers using the little warrior dolls as a type of scarecrow. The truth is probably a mixture of all three.

Koinobori are known in English as carp banners, windsocks, fish kites, streamers or even just flying fish! However they may be described, koinobori is basically a piece of linen that is sewn such that is resembles a hollow fish-shaped tube. The sides of the "tube" are brightly painted with the image of a carp. When flown from a rooftop, the carp flutters in the wind, looking very much like a fish swimming upstream.

Why a carp? There is an ancient story, possibly from China, about a carp who, full of strength and fighting spirit, managed to swim up a river to the top of a mountain.  When he got there, he transformed into a dragon and flew away into the heavens. The flying of the carp banner, then, symbolizes a boy’s determination and will to succeed in life, to become his own "dragon."

The custom is to fly a carp banner above houses or off the balcony of apartments for each boy in the household, the big carp representing the older brother descending to a small carp which represents the smallest. The little "school" is often surmounted by a colorful pinwheel, which wards off evil spirits, and can be accompanied by long streaming banners, or by banners which bear the kamon or family crest.

Shobu or the iris flower is another important symbol to Boy’s Day, because there is another word in Japanese with the same pronunciation that means something that is often translated as "striving", but means something like "showdown" or "success". On top of that, the iris leaves are sword-shaped, conforming neatly with the samurai tradition. But the leaves have been, from ancient times, considered a deterrent to evil. For that reason, it was the custom to stuff iris leaves into rooftops to prevent fire and other household disasters.

Nowadays, it is common to drink a tea made of iris for the occasion, but one of the more luxurious customs is to soak in a hot bath strewn with the fragrant flower. Also, confections called chimaki, which are wrapped in iris leaves, and kashiwa-mochi, which are wrapped in oak leaves (another symbol of strength), are traditionally eaten this day.

If you would like to share in the experience of Boy’s Day, there are a multitude of activities that are fun, easy, and inexpensive to do. For example, many of the shops in Little Tokyo, including the gift shop in the Japanese National Museum (downtown at 1st and Alameda), sell koinobori of various sizes, as well as do-it-yourself carp banner kits complete with paints and carp-stenciled linen. Don’t forget to pass by the bakeries and see if you can get a taste of one of the traditional confections.

Antique musha ningyo can be quite expensive—upwards of $500 or more, but a small kabuto can be made out of paper in the comfort of your own home. A wonderful one can be printed out on-line at  the awkwardly-named-but-totally-worth-it www.yamaha-motor.com.jp/eng/papercraft/seasons/tango . The instructions are a bit of a challenge, but with a little patience and a steady hand, you can build an impressive little handicraft. (Parents: I wouldn’t recommend this for little kids without being ready to help out when it gets too challenging.) Another website to check out is www.tammyyee.com/printkoi.html , which shows you how to make a charming origami koi fish and iris flower.

Have fun, and Happy Boy’s Day!