This weekโs fact is about one of Japanโs most beautiful summer traditions. ๐ Tanabata: The Star Festival Every year on 7th of July, Japan celebrates ไธๅค (ใใชใฐใ / Tanabata). According to legend, there were once two lovers: Orihime (็นๅงซ), a princess who wove beautiful cloth, and Hikoboshi (ๅฝฆๆ), a hardworking cowherd. After they fell in love, they became so happy together that they neglected their responsibilities. Orihime stopped weaving. Hikoboshi stopped looking after his cattle. Seeing this, the Heavenly King separated them on opposite sides of the Milky Way. The lovers were heartbroken. Moved by their sadness, the king allowed them to meet just once each year, on the seventh day of the seventh month. But there was one condition. If it rained, the river of stars could not be crossed, and they would have to wait another year to see each other. For this reason, many people still hope for clear skies on Tanabata night. A Festival of Wishes Today, people celebrate Tanabata by writing wishes on colourful paper strips called ็ญๅ (ใใใใ / tanzaku). They hang these wishes on bamboo branches, hoping their dreams will come true. You might see wishes for: passing an exam travelling to Japan happiness and good health becoming better at Japanese Language Lesson ้กใไบใใใใพใใ Negai-goto ga arimasu. I have a wish. ๆฅๆฌใซ่กใใใใงใใ Nihon ni ikitai desu. I want to go to Japan. ๆฅๆฌ่ชใไธๆใซใชใใใใงใใ Nihongo ga jลzu ni naritai desu. I want to become good at Japanese. Your Turn If you could write one wish on a Tanabata tanzaku, what would it be? Try writing it in Japanese if you can! ๐ฏ๐ต Arigatou, Joe Sensei.