In Japan, May 5th is celebrated as Children’s Day, a national holiday marked by the sight of carp streamers—koinobori—fluttering across towns and above family homes.
These carp are said to symbolize a Chinese legend in which they swim upstream against strong currents and, upon ascending a waterfall, transform into dragons. They carry a wish shared by many parents—that children grow with resilience, and in their own way.
The above image of 100 koinobori stretched across a river is one I witnessed during my visit to Japan in mid-April. It was the first time I had seen so many spanning a river with my own eyes. Depending on the wind, they would move in unison, then suddenly some would lift and dance higher than the rest. Each one was different in shape and movement, and watching them, I couldn’t help but see reflections of children.
I found myself wishing, quite naturally, that they grow strong and true to themselves. Not only for my own son, but for all children who will carry the future forward.
My son is now fourteen. He is beginning to find his independence, and at the same time, entering the often complex season of being a teenager.
Like carp swimming in the wind,
May you not be overcome by any current,
and may you grow—at your own pace—into who you are meant to be.
As I approach my fifteenth Mother’s Day, I find myself quietly returning to this feeling at my core. ☺️
Happy Mother's Day!
Keiko co-owner,
Tortoise General Store
