The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-07
BOYS FESTIVAL
 EVENT IN JAPAN
Young Prince Who Re- pelled ,Mongols Is
 Patron Day

The other day great paper carp float. cd from tall bamboo masts over the homes of many Japanese, especially in those sections farthest from the partly westernized ports and cities, warrior dolls were displayed, young men went to the bath wearing a wreath of spear. like leaves of the iris about their heads and in other ways Japan celebrated the Tango-no:S Sekku, or the Feast of Boy hood, writes Tafo Shinano in the Japan Advertiser. <.
 The fifth day of the fifth month is tic day set aside for the boys of Japan, just as the third day of the third ponth, Mommo-no-S -Sekuku the Festival of Dolls is the day belonging especially to all girls. Modern times have shprn the day of many of it's customs and hluch of It's traditional luster, but it Is still observed with full rites in many sec tions of the empire and, in part, even in the city of Tokyo.
 When the Mongcl forces attacked the shores of Japan in the reign of the Elm peror Konin, or ITO 4. D., the emperor called one of his sons, Prince Sagara, to him and ordered him to repel the in- vader. The prince set out for the island of Kyushu, pausing to worship at the Fujihomori shrine and pray for victory. The shrine of Fujinomori is at Xii in the province of Yamota, and is dedi- cated to the spirit of Prince Toneri.
 The Kami Kaze
 It was May that Prince Sagara took the field against the Mongol army. A proyidential tempest, known as .'Kami Kaze," arose suddenly as hoStilities opened, and many of the enemy's boats wore destroyed in the storm. To cele- Brate this event, May 5 was ehosen as q feast for all boys.
 The iris is indispensable for the occa- sion, since the leaf is like tue, blade of T sword. Large paper carp are hoisted on tall p0sts,, the. breeze filling and rounding them out. The carp which makes it's way upstream against rapids and finally springs over the waterfall, is mathematical of the endeavor that young boys must exert in overcoming life's difficulties. The wooden sword used on this day is called shobu katana, or the sword of the isis.
 In ancient times these shobu katana were used as missiles between two groups of boyAL one group on either bank of some stream or river. Remnants bearing the image of Shoki. a brave warrior of China, are hOisted in the courtyards of many rural homes. Dolls in the image of Takenouchi-no-S -Sukune, who is said to have lived three hundred years, serving under five emperors; of Kusunoki Masahige, a famous lOyalist, and of Kato Kiyomasa the trusted mar sbal of Hideyoshi who commanded the Japanese troops invading Korea, are most frequently placed on the altar
 A Chinese Liquid
 Blades of the iris are thrown into the bath on May 5. It is believed that the herb will quell all disease. The more superstitiOus curl the sharp-edged leaves about their heads while bathing, so that headache may be dispelled. Chi maxi, sweetened rice dumpling, IS eaten by'all, while iris sake is indispen- sable to the celebrants. Minced iris leaves are mixed with the sake to pro- duce the drink desired. The samurai ot old Yedo are reported to have especially liked this iris sake, which is still cher ished for it's flavor.
 In ancient China, the poet Kutsugen (Elsui Yuan), drowned himself on May 5 in the River Bekira (Hawai-la). The local magistrate, missing the poet, of- fered a prize to the one who could find his body, but none of the many seekers was successful Because Kutsugen was fond of chimaki, the magistrate threw the dumpling into the water to console his spirit, From this incident 0rigi- mated the dragon boat festival of China, and from 1t chimaki spread to Japan.