Koinobori – big red

Koinobori are carp-shaped streamers, which on May 5th – the Japanese Children’s Day kodomo no hi – are left waving as a wish for healthy growth. Why the carp is an easy question to answer. This variety of fish is respected for the power it needs to fight its way upstream. Its determination to overcome obstacles is thought to be a fitting example for growing boys to emulate, an so Koi-nobori make their yearly appearance atop streamer festooned poles every spring. Japanese Yatsuo paper, hand-dyed using the Katazome technique.