The event that tells Palaceside Building summer has truly arrived is the Tanabata Festival. Again this year, from the start of this week, decorations have appeared in the atrium of the first-basement central corridor. They remain on view through Saturday, July 11.
It is the annual event of the Palaceside Building Meitencai (chair: Shimada Yukimasa, manager of Japon), organized by volunteers from the building’s shopping street.
As usual, paper lanterns hang from the atrium ceiling and bamboo is set in the center of the basement corridor; LED lights evoking the Milky Way again lift the mood (photo above).
Tanzaku strips are ready again. People were already taking up the brush (photos at left and above). To hang the wishes, bamboo is set not only on the large central stand but, as last year, on the east and west gauges (garlands) that flank it (photos at left and below). What wishes will be written this year? For now, perhaps a repeat World Cup title for Nadeshiko Japan, off to a good start in the group stage…. Few strips so far, but among them, as in the photos at right and below, orthodox health prayers such as “May my brother-in-law recover,” half-resolves such as “May my swimming times improve (I will try),” and appeals for beauty such as “May I become prettier.”
Beyond the concrete “I want to lose five kilos” come not only “May I find a wonderful boyfriend” but a parent’s earnest “May my son find a lovely girlfriend and marry”—a reflection of the marriage squeeze. Marriage, though, is not the goal. There is also “May my wife not abandon me.”
“May I find a job safely and graduate safely” is the voice of a job-hunter, yet even with work some cry “I want a transfer soon.” Material desire is not escaped: the “must” in “May I definitely win the lottery” carries a strong wish. Current affairs appeared in the security legislation.
So that your wishes may be heard, the strips will, as every year after Tanabata, be dedicated at
Kanda Myojin. Please write a line.
From Wednesday, July 1 through Friday, July 3, Meitencai shops will give scratch cards to those who eat or shop; winners may join lottery sessions twice each day from Monday, July 6 through Wednesday, July 8 (12:00–14:00 and 18:00–20:00). Prizes include a Tanabata prize of smartwatches (2), first travel vouchers (50,000 yen, 2), second home game consoles (2), third cordless handheld cleaners (3), fourth futon cleaners (3), fifth bladeless fans (3), sixth air purifiers (10)—2,025 items in all, 1.2 million yen total. Stay tuned!!