Japanese students win Tanzaku contest

Students in Year 8 Japanese recently wrote their wishes on Tanzaku to enter the Japanese Teachers Association of NSW 2026 Tanzaku Contest. This is a tradition for the Star Festival, Tanabata. The Tanabata Festival in Japan celebrates an old love story about a weaver princess and a cattle herder. In the story, they are allowed to meet only once a year, on July 7th (or August 7th in some parts of Japan), so many people celebrate their reunion on this day. The two characters in the story represent two stars in the Milky Way so Tanabata is also called the ‘Star Festival’. 

If you are in Japan for Tanabata you will see lots of colourful decorations, including coloured strips of paper called tanzaku which are hung up on bamboo. Congratulations to Seyara, who was awarded 1st place in the Stage 4 Division! Also Madeleine and Sarah who were awarded Highly Commended! They will receive certificates and prizes from JR Tokai. 

Ms Lisa Tang, Japanese Teacher