Is Every Summer in Japan a ′Summer of Love’?

In an average year, what season do you think has the highest rate of new relationships being formed? Cold and lonely winter? Spring, with such romantic holidays as Valentine’s Day or White Day? Try again! From our experience, we believe that summer is the season that sees the most new couples being formed especially in Japan! Stick with us and read on, and we will tell you our reasons why!

The Origins of Fireworks Festivals

Nowadays, fireworks festivals are held all across Japan, but it is said that the beginning of the fireworks festival was a 1732 event called the ‘Ryogoku Kawabiraki.’ This event originated from water god festivals that were held in response to famine and epidemics around that time. In modern times the event is known as the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival.

Scenes influenced by this culture are often found in anime and Japanese movies, where characters invite the person they like, wear yukata and go to a fireworks display for a date. Eating food from the festival stalls, scooping up goldfish at traditional festival games, and finally confessing under the beautiful fireworks…!! It is a uniquely romantic atmosphere! Every summer, this kind of fireworks festival is viewable all over Japan, and it would not be unusual to describe it as an integral part of the Japanese summer! I think there are many people who would have a great chance to confess while in this atmosphere and start a relationship!

Summer Yukata

The light summer yukata is a perfect match for the summer season! Couples going to fireworks festivals on a yukata date is a common sight around this time in Japan!

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Hand Fans

These light and beautifully decorated hand fans will allow you to keep your self cool while not straying from the traditional Japanese look that you would want to have when visiting a summer festival!

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The Famous Tanabata Festival

The Tanabata Festival in Japan was created when the Qixi Festival in China was introduced to Japan during the Nara period and combined with the legend of the Japanese ‘weaving goddess’, Tanabatata-tsume. The exact time when the festival starts varies across Japan, but most festivals nowadays usually take place starting at 1 am July 7, with festivals taking place between July and August. The Sendai Tanabata Festival in Miyagi Prefecture is held in August and is particularly famous!

Wherever Tanabata is celebrated, it is common practice to write a wish on a strip of paper and display it on a bamboo leaf. Compared to the original Chinese festival, Tanabata in Japan has a stronger atmosphere of ‘wish granting’ than ‘love.’ Though ‘I want to fall in love’ is of course a very common wish!! Many people have left messages on their paper strip confessing their true love!

Tanabata Paper Strips

These paper strips, known as ‘tanzaku’, are what you write your wish on during Tanabata. Even outside of Japan it could be interesting to write your wish, display the tanzaku and see how lucky you get!

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Reasons to Get Out and Get Dating!

A funny thing happened with the results we had from a recent survey about how people think of the seasons… The results for men and women were very different! The survey results showed that guys tend to start dating in spring, and but girls usually start their relationships in summer! We can’t be totally sure of the reason. However, it is possible that in spring in Japan, when there is a literal and metaphorical atmosphere of starting anew in school, work and the fiscal year, this gives men a big boost to get out there and start their dating life again! As for women, the cause could be the amount of romantic and exciting festivals and chances to meet other people in the summer which is so important!

Another possibility is that the a large amount of weddings in Japan are held around October. Most wedding invitations from acquaintances and friends about to tie the knot will therefore arrive in the mailboxes of unmarried men and women from July to September, giving them the inspiration to find a love of their own!

Want to Find ‘Your Summer Love’?

Summer is so associated with love in Japan that there are many stories of ‘summer-only love’, where people begin to date someone they meet at a travel spot during their summer vacation for a relationship that only lasts for the summer season! What is the season where the most new relationships begin in your country?