Our twins Becca and Anna went into Japanese kindergarten and soon after came our first experience with Tanabata.

ベッカとアナは日本の幼稚園に通い 私達は初めて七夕を経験しました

[Life in Japan Theme Song]

友達のミドリとコウシが 七夕の話を説明してくれました

Fortunately for us, our new friends Midori and Koushi invited us over to enjoy a meal at their house and hear the story of Tanabata.

彼女は織姫です

Her name was Orihime.

織姫は天帝の娘で 天の川で一番美しい着物を作った

Orihime was the daughter of the Sky King, and she made the most beautiful clothes along the milky way.

牛飼いの彦星と 結婚するが

She fell in love and was married to the cowboy Hikoboshi,

牛が王国で野放しになり 織姫は着物を作るのをやめたので

however the king was mad after their marriage because the cows began to wander all over the kingdom

王様は怒り 二人を別れさせた

and Orihime stopped making beautiful clothes for him, so he forbid them from being together.

織姫が悲しむので王様は 年に一度 7月7日だけ再会を許した

Orihime was so sad that the king decided to let them get together once a year, on July 7 — Tanabata.

特別な日に2人は橋を渡って再会する それが七夕の話です

They come across the far reaches of the milky way to meet together on a bridge on this special day. And that's the story of Tanabata.

日本はお祭りが大好きです

Japan loves Matsuri, or festivals.

日本のお祭りや伝統は 大昔の東洋に遡ります

These celebrations, with their unique clothes and traditions, give you a glimpse into the ancient roots of the East

まとまらないわ

It's kind of crazy still

オレンジのつける

Get the orange thing.

パパのジェル？

Is that Daddy's hair gel?

パパの髪はトゲトゲしてる

Your [hair] is so much — has so many spiky things.

今日はジョシュアの幼稚園の 七夕祭りです

Today we'll be participating in the Tanabata Matsuri at Joshua's kindergarten.

パパみたい！

I'm Daddy!

服を着ましょう

OK, let's go get dressed!

サラは準備できたかな

Look at Sarah! She's almost ready.

特別な着方があるの？

Is there a special way to put these on?

こっちが上じゃないといけないの

Yes! You have to make sure that this side is on top.

こっちが上だと死人だから

Because if this side is on top, it means your dead.

- これは着物？浴衣？ - 浴衣よ

And this is a kimono, or this is a yukata? Yukata.

違いは？

What's the difference, do you know?

浴衣は夏に着るのかしら？

I think the yukata's more for summer...

浴衣の方が安いわね

And, I can afford a yukata.

着物は買えないわ

I can't afford a kimono!

着物の方が豪華ね

Kimono's are fancy.

絹でできてるのかしら？

Like silk and... I don't know what.

浴衣も綺麗だけどね

They're beautiful though. Yukatas are pretty too...

夏用だからもっと 軽い生地なのかしら？

I believe they're made for summer so they're a lighter weight material — maybe?

浴衣の方がカジュアルね 着物は豪華よ

And they're more casual whereas a kimono is more for very fancy

- 後ろ向いて - 時間かかるね

Turn around. It's taking a long time.

準備に時間がかかるね

Yep — getting ready takes a long time!

ジョシュア！

Joshua!

腕を通して

Put your arm in!

虫の模様よ

It's bugs!

- すごいでしょ - かっこいい！

Isn't that so cool? It's so Kakui!

サラも好きそうだね

Ah, I bet Sarah loves that.

着付けが難しいね

Trying to figure out how this works sometimes can be quite a challenge!

丈が長いわ

Well, I've got to make it short enough for him.

後ろ向いて

Turn around.

男の子と女の子で違うんだね

There's a difference for boys and girls.

腕をあげると ここが長いの

Look, when he goes like this — this is not really long.

本当だね ジョシュアのは長くないね

Oh that's right. Yours are nice and long and his are like that, huh?

すごい！

Ah! That's so cool!

いいわよ

OK

もう行ける？

Are we almost ready to go?

家を出る瞬間を写真に収めるのが ライター家の伝統です

A tradition in the Reutter household is to take pictures as we're leaving the house and add them to our slideshow of memories!

ジョシュアの初めての七夕祭りです

I'm glad we could get these of Joshua's first Tanabata Matsuri!

座っていい？

Can I sit down?

2020年のお祭りはこうです

Matsuri in 2020 is like this.

マスクは必須です

Got a mask, we're ready to go.

すごい飾りだね！

Whoa- look! It's all decorated, Joshua.

すごい！

Ooo, very cool.

コロナのため 例年より小規模ですが

Because of Corona, the production this year is much smaller than before,

浴衣の子供達の 踊りが楽しみです

but it's still exciting to see the kids in their yukatas all ready to dance!

初めての 七夕を覚えてる？

Sarah! Do you remember all of this, when you did this?

最近の話だね

It wasn't that long ago, was it?

ジョシュアだ！

There's Joshua!

ジョシュアは出番が残ってるので 飲み物を取りに来ました

Joshua still has one dance left so this water will help us get through the rest of it

7月に行われる お祭りですが

Because it is hot.

コロナ対策として 日本ではお祭りが中止になりました

Originally this festival was supposed to happen in July

今年の七夕祭りは クラスごとに時間をずらしています

But like a lot of the festivals here in Japan, they were cancelled because of Corona and all the restrictions that are in place,

全員踊っても 密にならないようにします

So this year they decided they were able to do it in a way that other classes come at different times.

ママとサラも水分補給です

So that everyone can dance. Everyone gets a turn.

パパも飲みます

But there's not too many people there at once.

34度だけど 体感温度は42度

Mommy's getting her drink. Sarah's getting her drink on.

その通りね

Daddy's going to get his drink on.

１時になったら かんかん照りよ

34 degrees. Feels like 42.

ジョシュア！

And it does.

凄かったよ！

Full sun at 1 PM!

ハイタッチ！

Oh dude!

格好良かったよ！

You were awesome, Dude!

楽しかった？

Aw! High five, high five!

シャボン玉もらったの

You were so kakui.

自分のシャボン玉だよ

Was it so fun?

行くよ ママ行っちゃったよ

I got bubbles.

行こう！

I got my own bubbles.

踊ったらもらえたの？ すごいね！

OK, let's go! Mommy already left!

エイデンと可愛い写真が撮れたわ

Here we go!

いいね

Wow- is that what you got for doing it today? How awesome, Dude!

先生ともね

I got a cute picture of him and Aiden.

Ah cool, good!

And of him and his teacher. Aw!