Palaceside Building's familiar summer Tanabata decorations have returned this week to the B1 central-corridor atrium. Through July 7.
The Palaceside Building Restaurant Association—volunteers from the building's eateries and shops (chair: Nakajima,
president of Senkaku Sakaba)—launched the "Tanabata Festival" seven years ago so people could feel the seasons and enjoy a beloved Japanese folk custom. With May carp streamers and December Christmas trees, it is now a fixture.
As every year, fifteen large lanterns hang from the atrium ceiling; bamboo surrounds the central flower bed, and the popular blue LED "Milky Way" from last year's debut is back at B1 height. Small pipe frames east and west of the bed are dressed with mini bamboo and ornaments
, adding color (photo upper right). Desks beside them invite visitors to write wishes on tanzaku strips. Today (the 19th) is day four, and the strips grow daily.
Typical wishes: health ("Stay healthy every day," "Lower my γ-GTP"), job hunters' "Land an offer before graduation," lottery wins—and many for "peace" and "May our children never be drawn into war," perhaps reflecting recent headlines?
My favorite: "I want to see the Carp win!"—bold black characters on red tanzaku.
After Tanabata, tanzaku will be offered at Kanda Myojin so wishes may be answered. They will be handled respectfully—rest assured.
Diners and shoppers at association restaurants during the event receive scratch cards.
Winners may join prize drawings July 3 (Thu), 4 (Fri) and 7 (Mon), 12:00–14:00 and 18:00–20:00. Prizes include a ¥100,000 travel voucher, Roombas (2), tablets (3), ¥10,000 gift cards (7), meal vouchers and more—888 prizes totaling ¥1 million. Enjoy!