Think about Sendai's history at Fujisaka Shrine

Sendai's summer tradition, the Sendai Tanabata Festival, will be held from August 6th to 8th. This is a traditional event that has continued since the days of Date Masamune, the founder of the Sendai domain, and the entire city is decorated with colorful Tanabata decorations. In particular, the arcade street that runs from Sendai Station to Ichibancho is filled with gorgeous Tanabata decorations made of bamboo over 10 meters long, delighting the eyes of visitors.

The Tanabata event originates from ancient China. It is said to have started with the ''Kikkoden,'' an event to pray for improvement in weaving and sewing in memory of the Orihime star from the Tanabata legend. It was introduced to Japan during the Heian period and was performed as a court ritual, but in the Edo period it spread among the common people and is said to have started to be held nationwide. Date Masamune is said to have encouraged this Tanabata event to pray for the improvement of women's skills, and it has been passed down even though it was suspended due to the war and then canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Now that you know the roots of the Tanabata Festival, why not visit Fujisaka Shrine in Otemachi, Aoba Ward? Fujisaka Shrine, located quietly on Fujigasaka, one of the ''Sendai Seven Slopes'', is a shrine where Orihime was once worshiped by the silk factory ''Sendaihira'' that was located nearby. It is also a shrine of good luck that miraculously escaped the ravages of the Sendai Air Raid. Sendai-hira, officially known as ''Seigo Sendai-hira,'' is said to be the highest quality of hakama fabric, and became a hot topic when figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu wore it at the People's Honor Award Ceremony.

Fujisaka Shrine is also decorated with Tanabata decorations during the Tanabata Festival. It's about a 3-minute walk from Omachi-Nishikoen Station on the Tozai Subway Line, so please come visit us for Tanabata prayers.