こどもの日・端午の節句とは – 英語で説明するために – 英会話形式で学ぶ

A: Welcome to the deep dive. Really excited for today’s exploration. We’re, uh, getting into a fascinating Japanese national holiday, Children’s Day. Our mission really is to unpack all those layers—the tradition, the history, the, you know, the deep cultural meaning behind it all—using the sources we’ve looked at. And there’s so much here: colorful decorations, symbolic foods, even, uh, ancient rituals. It’s quite something.

B: Yeah, absolutely. The main focus is Children’s Day, May 5th every year. And what’s so interesting, I think, is how it shifted, you know, from being mostly about boys’ growth to celebrating all kids. And every single piece of it—the symbols, the food—it all tells a story. It’s deeply symbolic.

A: Okay. So, let’s unpack that a bit. Starting with the basics. Children’s Day, Kodomo no Hi, it’s a national holiday, May 5th. And it’s all about celebrating kids’ health, their growth, happiness. But the origins, like you said, they tell us more, don’t they?

B: Oh, definitely. To really get it, you have to look back. It started as Tango no Sekku. And back then, the focus was, uh, primarily on boys—their growth, their future success. Its roots actually go back even further to an old Chinese festival also celebrating boys’ health and strength. Japan adopted it, and then, well, much later in 1948, it became a national holiday. And that change from just boys to all children—that’s really key. It wasn’t just a name change. It sort of reflected shifts in society—postwar Japan thinking about family, childhood, bringing different traditions together under this, uh, national umbrella of hope for all the kids.

A: Right. That makes sense. A really telling evolution. And as the holiday changed, these, um, vivid traditions became even more central, didn’t they? The visual stuff. Let’s get into some of those iconic symbols families use. When you picture Children’s Day, probably the first thing that comes to mind is the koinobori, right? Those amazing, bright carp-shaped streamers. Families fly them outside. You see them everywhere. And the symbolism—wow—the carp swimming upstream, fighting the current to become a dragon. It’s just this incredible metaphor for strength, for courage, overcoming challenge.

B: Exactly. It’s potent stuff, especially in a culture valuing perseverance. It’s a big lesson for kids, even from a young age. And those koinobori—they’re not just pretty decorations. They’re like an act of wish, you know, hoping the kids grow up with that same strength, that resilience. And it doesn’t stop outside. Inside the house, you often see displays—samurai helmets, kabuto, sometimes even the full armor, yoroi. Again, not just museum pieces. They stand for bravery, strength, that warrior spirit. But there’s also something subtle there, too, about teaching gaman—enduring hardship with dignity.

A: Gaman, right?

B: Yeah, it’s a core Japanese virtue, linking personal strength with, like, societal resilience, something instilled early on.

A: And speaking of visuals, if you want to see this on a truly massive scale, Kazo City—they hang these gigantic koinobori over the Tone River.

B: Oh yeah, incredible.

A: It must be an unbelievable sight. And it really brings the community together, too, doesn’t it? A sort of collective hope on display. You can just imagine the scale of that. So, okay. Beyond the visuals, what about the food? Special food is always important in celebrations. What unique treats are involved here?

B: Yes, food is definitely central. Two really traditional ones are kashiwa mochi and chimaki. Kashiwa mochi—that’s a sweet rice cake. Usually got sweet bean paste inside, and it’s wrapped in an oak leaf. That leaf is key.

A: The oak leaf. Why oak?

B: Well, the symbolism is that oak trees don’t shed their old leaves until the new ones are already growing. So, it represents continuity, prosperity, the family line continuing, traditions flourishing. It’s quite profound, actually.

A: Oh, interesting.

B: Yeah. And then you have chimaki. That’s sticky rice wrapped up in bamboo leaves. Also enjoyed for good health, longevity. So yeah, they’re delicious, but they’re also like—

A: Edible wishes embodying those cultural hopes.

B: Edible wishes. I like that. And then there’s the iris bath tradition, the shōbuyu. That always seems so unique.

A: It is. Yeah. And it’s a really important ritual for the day. Basically, you put iris leaves in the bath water.

B: Okay.

A: The belief is that irises have, uh, purifying qualities. So the bath is meant to ward off evil spirits, protect the children from harm. If you sort of connect the dots, all these things—the food, the baths—

B: the decorations—they’re not just old habits. They feel like these really deep acts of care, connecting the kids’ well-being to tradition, to this cultural focus on protection and nurturing.

A: So pulling it all together then, Children’s Day isn’t just a fun day off for kids, is it? It sounds like a really deep cultural practice involving the whole family, the whole community.

B: Exactly right. Every single tradition we’ve talked about—it’s aimed at fostering strength, health, success in children. And what’s really significant, I think, is that it’s a national holiday. Unlike maybe some local festivals, this has a strong unifying message across Japan, focusing on the future of all its children. And you know, it’s not static either. It’s a living tradition. Many communities and families also organize things like sports days or art events celebrating not just strength, but all kinds of talents the kids have.

A: What a fascinating deep dive. We’ve really covered a lot—from those amazing koinobori and the samurai armor to the symbolic foods like kashiwa mochi and those purifying iris baths. It all seems woven together by this really profound wish for children’s well-being, for their future, passed down generation after generation.

B: Absolutely. And maybe something for you listening to think about is—how do these incredibly rich, deep-rooted traditions keep shaping hopes for the future even today? What really stands out to you as the core message from Children’s Day, and how do these ancient customs still find meaning in our, you know, fast-changing modern world? It’s something to ponder.

A: Welcome to the deep dive. Really excited for today’s exploration. We’re, uh, getting into a fascinating Japanese national holiday, Children’s Day. Our mission really is to unpack all those layers—the tradition, the history, the, you know, the deep cultural meaning behind it all—using the sources we’ve looked at. And there’s so much here: colorful decorations, symbolic foods, even, uh, ancient rituals. It’s quite something.

A: さあ、ディープダイブにようこそ。今日のテーマ、めっちゃ楽しみだよ。今回は日本の祝日「こどもの日」に深く切り込んでいくんだ。伝統や歴史、それからその奥にある深い意味も、いろんな資料をもとに一緒にひも解いていこうと思ってる。カラフルな飾りや、象徴的な食べ物、それに古くからの儀式まで、見どころたくさんなんだ。

B: Yeah, absolutely. The main focus is Children’s Day, May 5th every year. And what’s so interesting, I think, is how it shifted, you know, from being mostly about boys’ growth to celebrating all kids. And every single piece of it—the symbols, the food—it all tells a story. It’s deeply symbolic.

B: うん、本当だよね。毎年5月5日の「こどもの日」がテーマだけど、もともとは男の子の成長を願う日から、今はすべての子どもたちのお祝いに変わってきたっていうのが面白いと思う。どの要素も―飾りも食べ物も―全部にストーリーがあって、本当に意味が深いんだ。

A: Okay. So, let’s unpack that a bit. Starting with the basics. Children’s Day, Kodomo no Hi, it’s a national holiday, May 5th. And it’s all about celebrating kids’ health, their growth, happiness. But the origins, like you said, they tell us more, don’t they?

A: じゃあ、そこをもうちょっと掘り下げてみようか。まず基本から。こどもの日って5月5日の国民の祝日で、子どもたちの健康とか成長、幸せを願う日。でも、そのルーツって、さっき言ったようにもっといろいろあるんだよね？

B: Oh, definitely. To really get it, you have to look back. It started as Tango no Sekku. And back then, the focus was, uh, primarily on boys—their growth, their future success. Its roots actually go back even further to an old Chinese festival also celebrating boys’ health and strength. Japan adopted it, and then, well, much later in 1948, it became a national holiday. And that change from just boys to all children—that’s really key. It wasn’t just a name change. It sort of reflected shifts in society—postwar Japan thinking about family, childhood, bringing different traditions together under this, uh, national umbrella of hope for all the kids.

B: うん、間違いないよ。ちゃんと理解するには昔にさかのぼらないと。もともとは「端午の節句」って呼ばれてて、当時は男の子の成長や立身出世を願う行事だったんだ。その起源もさらに古くて、中国の伝統行事が元になってるんだよ。それが日本に伝わって、1948年になって今の「こどもの日」って国民の祝日になったんだ。ただ名前が変わっただけじゃなくて、戦後の社会変化や、家族や子どもへの考え方が変わって、みんなの願いがこめられた祝日になったのが大きいよね。

A: Right. That makes sense. A really telling evolution. And as the holiday changed, these, um, vivid traditions became even more central, didn’t they? The visual stuff. Let’s get into some of those iconic symbols families use. When you picture Children’s Day, probably the first thing that comes to mind is the koinobori, right? Those amazing, bright carp-shaped streamers. Families fly them outside. You see them everywhere. And the symbolism—wow—the carp swimming upstream, fighting the current to become a dragon. It’s just this incredible metaphor for strength, for courage, overcoming challenge.

A: なるほど、それで納得だよね。時代とともに祝日の形が進化して、あのカラフルな伝統もますます大事になったんだ。例えば、こどもの日って言えばまず「こいのぼり」を思い浮かべる人が多いんじゃないかな。あの明るい鯉の形の吹き流しを家の外に飾っているのを、あちこちで見かけるよね。鯉が流れに逆らって泳いで、ついには龍になるっていう話、あれが力強さや勇気、困難に立ち向かうことの象徴になってて、本当に素敵な意味が込められてるんだ。

B: Exactly. It’s potent stuff, especially in a culture valuing perseverance. It’s a big lesson for kids, even from a young age. And those koinobori—they’re not just pretty decorations. They’re like an act of wish, you know, hoping the kids grow up with that same strength, that resilience. And it doesn’t stop outside. Inside the house, you often see displays—samurai helmets, kabuto, sometimes even the full armor, yoroi. Again, not just museum pieces. They stand for bravery, strength, that warrior spirit. But there’s also something subtle there, too, about teaching gaman—enduring hardship with dignity.

B: そうそう。本当に力強いシンボルだと思う。特に「がんばること」を大切にする日本の文化では、子どもたちにも小さいうちから大切な教えになるんだよね。こいのぼりってただの飾りじゃなくて、「強く、たくましく育ってほしい」っていう願いがこもってるんだ。家の中にも、兜や鎧を飾ることが多いけど、これもただの美術品じゃなくて、勇気や強さ、武士の精神の象徴なんだ。しかも「我慢」、つまりつらいこともちゃんと耐える心も自然に伝えているんだよね。

A: Gaman, right?

A: 「我慢」だよね？

B: Yeah, it’s a core Japanese virtue, linking personal strength with, like, societal resilience, something instilled early on.

B: うん、それも大事な日本の美徳のひとつだよね。自分自身の強さだけじゃなくて、社会全体のたくましさにもつながるって、小さいころから身につけるものだし。

A: And speaking of visuals, if you want to see this on a truly massive scale, Kazo City—they hang these gigantic koinobori over the Tone River.

A: そういえば、もし圧倒的な規模のこいのぼりを見たいなら、加須市の利根川にかかる巨大なこいのぼりはすごいよね。

B: Oh yeah, incredible.

B: ああ、あれは本当に圧巻だよ。

A: It must be an unbelievable sight. And it really brings the community together, too, doesn’t it? A sort of collective hope on display. You can just imagine the scale of that. So, okay. Beyond the visuals, what about the food? Special food is always important in celebrations. What unique treats are involved here?

A: 実際に見たらきっとすごい景色なんだろうな。それに、地域の人たちがみんなで願いを込めて飾ってる感じが伝わってくるよね。じゃあ、見た目以外だと食べ物もお祭りには欠かせないけど、こどもの日にはどんな特別なお菓子があるの？

B: Yes, food is definitely central. Two really traditional ones are kashiwa mochi and chimaki. Kashiwa mochi—that’s a sweet rice cake. Usually got sweet bean paste inside, and it’s wrapped in an oak leaf. That leaf is key.

B: うん、食べ物も大事だよね。伝統的なのは「柏餅」と「ちまき」かな。柏餅は、あんこが入ったお餅を柏の葉で包んだものなんだけど、この葉っぱがポイントなんだ。

A: The oak leaf. Why oak?

A: 柏の葉ってどうして使われてるんだろう？

B: Well, the symbolism is that oak trees don’t shed their old leaves until the new ones are already growing. So, it represents continuity, prosperity, the family line continuing, traditions flourishing. It’s quite profound, actually.

B: 柏の木って、古い葉が新しい葉と入れ替わるまで落ちないから、家系が途切れず続くとか、繁栄や伝統の継承を象徴してるんだよ。結構深い意味があるんだよね。

A: Oh, interesting.

A: へぇ、面白いね。

B: Yeah. And then you have chimaki. That’s sticky rice wrapped up in bamboo leaves. Also enjoyed for good health, longevity. So yeah, they’re delicious, but they’re also like—

B: だよね。それから、ちまきもあるよ。もち米を笹の葉で包んで蒸したもので、健康や長寿を願って食べるんだ。どっちも美味しいだけじゃなくて―

A: Edible wishes embodying those cultural hopes.

A: 食べることで願いも一緒に込めてるって感じだよね。

B: Edible wishes. I like that. And then there’s the iris bath tradition, the shōbuyu. That always seems so unique.

B: 食べる願い、いい表現だね。あともうひとつ、菖蒲湯（しょうぶ湯）の風習もユニークだよね。

A: It is. Yeah. And it’s a really important ritual for the day. Basically, you put iris leaves in the bath water.

A: うん、そうだね。こどもの日の大事な行事のひとつで、お風呂に菖蒲の葉を入れるんだ。

B: Okay.

B: へぇ、そうなんだ。

A: The belief is that irises have, uh, purifying qualities. So the bath is meant to ward off evil spirits, protect the children from harm. If you sort of connect the dots, all these things—the food, the baths—

A: 菖蒲には邪気を払う力があるって信じられてて、そのお風呂に入ることで子どもたちを守るっていう意味があるんだ。こうやって考えると、食べ物もお風呂も―

B: the decorations—they’re not just old habits. They feel like these really deep acts of care, connecting the kids’ well-being to tradition, to this cultural focus on protection and nurturing.

B: 飾りもそうだけど、全部ただの古い習慣じゃなくて、子どもを大切に思う気持ちや、守ってあげたいっていう想いがちゃんと形になってるんだよね。

A: So pulling it all together then, Children’s Day isn’t just a fun day off for kids, is it? It sounds like a really deep cultural practice involving the whole family, the whole community.

A: つまり、こどもの日ってただの休日じゃなくて、家族みんなや地域の人たちも一緒になって、子どもを大切に思う日本らしい深い行事なんだね。

B: Exactly right. Every single tradition we’ve talked about—it’s aimed at fostering strength, health, success in children. And what’s really significant, I think, is that it’s a national holiday. Unlike maybe some local festivals, this has a strong unifying message across Japan, focusing on the future of all its children. And you know, it’s not static either. It’s a living tradition. Many communities and families also organize things like sports days or art events celebrating not just strength, but all kinds of talents the kids have.

B: まさにそうだね。今まで話したどの伝統も、子どもたちの健康や成長、幸せを願ってるものばかりだし、全国的な祝日だからこそ、日本中のみんなの気持ちを一つにしてると思う。それに、時代に合わせて形も変わってきてて、地域や家庭によっては運動会や作品展みたいに、いろんな才能を祝うイベントも増えてきてるんだよ。

A: What a fascinating deep dive. We’ve really covered a lot—from those amazing koinobori and the samurai armor to the symbolic foods like kashiwa mochi and those purifying iris baths. It all seems woven together by this really profound wish for children’s well-being, for their future, passed down generation after generation.

A: 本当にいろんな話ができたね。こいのぼりや鎧、柏餅、菖蒲湯まで、どれも子どもたちの幸せや未来への強い願いが、何世代も受け継がれてるって感じがするよ。

B: Absolutely. And maybe something for you listening to think about is—how do these incredibly rich, deep-rooted traditions keep shaping hopes for the future even today? What really stands out to you as the core message from Children’s Day, and how do these ancient customs still find meaning in our, you know, fast-changing modern world? It’s something to ponder.

B: うん、間違いないよ。聞いてくれてるみんなにも、こんな深い伝統が、今もどうやって未来への希望をつないでるのか、ぜひ考えてみてほしいな。こどもの日に込められた一番大事なメッセージって何だろう？そして、こういう古い風習が、今の変化の激しい時代にもどうやって意味を持ち続けているのか―ちょっと考えてみてね。