For the windsock above the koinobori, two main kinds are used: the five-colored windsock ( 五色吹流し), based on the five elements of Chinese philosophy, and patterned windsocks ( 柄物吹流し), often featuring a family crest. Koinobori with a five-color windsock at the topĪ typical koinobori set consists of, from the top of the pole down, a pair of arrow-spoked wheels ( 矢車, yaguruma) with a ball-shaped spinning vane, a mounting windsock ( 吹流し, fukinagashi ), and finally the koinobori. The koinobori is included in Unicode as U+1F38F 🎏 CARP STREAMER. Landscapes across Japan are decorated with koinobori from April to early May, in honor of children for a good future and in the hope that they will grow up healthy and strong. They are also known as satsuki-nobori ( 皐のぼり).Ĭhildren's Day takes place on May 5, the last day of Golden Week, the largest break for workers and also a week in which many businesses, state schools, and some private schools close for up to 9–10 days for the designated national holidays. They are then allowed to flutter in the wind. Koinobori are made by drawing carp patterns on paper, cloth, or other nonwoven fabric. Koinobori ( 鯉のぼり), meaning ' carp streamer ' in Japanese, are carp-shaped windsocks traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate Tango no sekku ( 端午の節句), a traditional calendrical event which is now designated as Children's Day ( 子供の日, Kodomo no hi ), a national holiday in Japan. Koinobori at Chizu, Tottori with a patterned windsock at the top

Japanese kite