This photograph was taken on May 5, 2007 at the Gardena Buddhist Church in Southern California. We were there for their Fuji matsuri carnival. They had various food booths and games. We ate tamales with chili, spam musubi, and Okinawa dango. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, they had already run out of udon. The fuji matsuri is much smaller than Gardena's obon festival, but there was still the good food!

May 5 is celebrated annually in Japan and in Japanese American communities as kodomo no hi, or Children's Day. Traditionally, that day in Japan was Tango no Sekku, known as Boy's Day. Koi (carp) windsocks are flown, each one to represent a son in the family.

Learn more about koinobori on the Japanese American National Museum's online store.