Designated in 1989 as a day for the appreciation of nature. Before 1989, this day was a birthday celebration for Emperor Showa who loved nature. A new holiday established in 1999. Cloth banners resembling carp are displayed outside while dolls in samurai outfits are displayed indoors by families with boys, in hopes that their children will be healthy and fit. Tanabata is held on July 7, according to the modern lunar calendar, although the major festivals in different cities of Japan are held on August 8.
Many families display tanka poetry written on strips of thick paper and hung from bamboo trees.
These displays, on a larger scale, constitute festivals in specific cities. A holiday, established in 1996, for the appreciation of the sea. This holiday honors the elderly and celebrates their longevity. The elderly are invited out for entertainment and gift-giving. Similar to activities at the vernal equinox, family reunions and visits to grave sites are important on this central day of a seven-day Buddhist memorial service.