In Japan’s Tanabata festival, wishes are traditionally written on narrow paper strips called tanzaku.
People write wishes, poems or aspirations on brightly colored tanzaku and attach them to bamboo branches. The bamboo display may also carry other paper ornaments, creating the familiar festival decoration seen in homes, schools, shopping streets and public spaces.
Tanabata is based on the East Asian legend of the weaver star Orihime and the cowherd star Hikoboshi. The Milky Way is said to separate them, and they are allowed to meet once a year. The festival is commonly held on July 7, although some regions follow a later date based on the old lunisolar calendar.
Tanzaku are different from ema, wooden plaques used at Japanese shrines and temples for written prayers or wishes. The paper strips are specifically associated with Tanabata decorations.