Kodomo no Hi, also called Children’s Day, is commemorated each year in Japan on May 5th to celebrate the growth and good fortune of children. The festival will feature a range of family-friendly activities. Come listen to taiko performances, learn origami, explore the garden using our special Discovery Map designed by Mike Bennett, and enjoy displays of koinobori, or cloth carp streamers.
In Japan, koinobori, are flown outside of homes and public buildings create a festive atmosphere from April to early May. Portland Japanese Garden’s koinobori will be on display in the Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation Courtyard and Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center.
Koi symbolize courage and determination as they swim upstream and through powerful waterfalls. Visit Portland Japanese Garden’s beloved koi fish at the Zig-Zag Bridge next to the Heavenly Falls in the Strolling Pond Garden. We’ll also be showing our fun and informative Curious About Koi video in the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner.
To plan your visit, please see the program below. (Schedule still being finalized.)
Children’s Day Program
All day: Koinobori displays in the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner and Tateuchi Courtyard.
9:30 am – 10:00 am: Members-only origami workshop taught by Yuki Martin in the Yanai Family Classroom
10:00 am – 2:30 pm: Origami workshop taught by Yuki Martin in the Yanai Family Classroom. Martin is the author of Super Cute Origami Kit: Kawaii Paper Projects You Can Decorate in Thousands of Ways!
10:00 am – 3:00 pm: Curious about Koi video viewings in the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner
10:00 am – 3:00 pm: Explore the garden using the Discovery Map created in partnership with local artist and public joy creator, Mike Bennett. Copies can be picked up in the Tateuchi Courtyard. This activity goes through various garden locations. Don’t forget to collect a prize before leaving – they will be available to pick up near the entrance stairs in the Tateuchi Courtyard.
10:45 am: Taiko performance by En Taiko at the Pavilion’s East Veranda
11:45 am: Taiko performance by En Taiko at the Pavilion’s East Veranda
1:15 pm: Taiko performance by En Taiko at the Pavilion’s East Veranda
About Kodomo no Hi
Carp streamers are higher than the roof.
The biggest carp is the father.
The small carp are children.
Enjoying swimming in the sky.
– Lyrics to the Koi Nobori (carp streamer) song
Kodomo no Hi celebrates the growth and good fortune of children. The day was originally a celebration for boys called Tango no Sekku, meaning the fifth day of the fifth month. In 1948, the Japanese Government designated this day a national holiday named Children’s Day to honor both boys and girls.
In addition to koi, carp, samurai, irises, oak trees, and bamboos all symbolize strength. Families may also display replica kabuto (samurai helmets) or musha-ningyo (samurai dolls) in the tokonoma (alcove). Iris flowers are displayed in flower arrangements or enjoyed in a syobuyu (a bath with a bunch of floating iris leaves). Children eat kashiwa-mochi (a rice cake wrapped in an oak leaf) or chimaki (a dumpling made of sticky rice, wrapped in bamboo leaves, and tied with rush).
Portland Japanese Garden would like to thank The Miller Foundation for their support of arts and culture programming.
