The community can enjoy this year’s Japan’s Children’s Day via the City of Hobart website, after the event moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drone footage on the City’s website shows the beautiful carp-shaped streamers and windsocks, known as “koinobori”, gifted by Hobart’s Japanese sister city, Yaizu.
The six-metre long koinobori, which are traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate Children’s Day, can be seen flying high at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and Government House.
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said that while this year’s event could not be held in person, it was still important to celebrate together as a community.
“We invite the children and communities of Hobart, Yaizu and around the world to go online this year to enjoy this very special day,” Cr Reynolds said.
“Physical distancing doesn’t prevent us from coming together as a community to celebrate our children’s lives, contributions and well-being.”
Japan’s Children’s Day was marked for the first time in Hobart last year, attracting hundreds of children to a special event at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.
“Last year’s event was a great success, with Japanese songs and Taiko drumming and hundreds of colourful decorations made by students,” Cr Reynolds said.
“I said at the time that it would be really good to make it a regular tradition because everyone involved loved it, and we won’t let COVID-19 get in the way of that.”
Japan’s Children’s Day has been an annual national holiday in Japan since 1948. The event is now celebrated by many countries worldwide, including in Australia.
The City of Hobart has a proud and enduring 43-year friendship with Yaizu and a 30 year Yaizu student exchange program. Government House hosts and provides a tour for our visiting Yaizu exchange students each year.
