A mother's wish, in the wind.
Published by Keiko Shinomoto on May 9, 2026
In Japan, May 5 is celebrated as Children’s Day, a national holiday marked by the sight of carp streamers—koinobori—flying over cities and above family homes.
These carp are said to symbolize a Chinese legend in which they swim upstream against strong currents and, when climbing a waterfall, transform into dragons. They carry a wish shared by many parents—that children will grow up resilient, and in their own way.
The above image of 100 koinobori spanning a river is one I witnessed during my visit to Japan in mid-April. It was the first time I had seen so many spanning a river with my own eyes. Depending on the wind, they moved in time, and suddenly some lifted and danced higher than the rest. Each one was different in shape and movement, and when I saw them, I couldn't help but see the reflections of children.
I naturally wished that they would grow up strong and true to themselves. Not just for my own son, but for all the children who will carry the future forward.
My son is now fourteen. He is beginning to find his independence and at the same time entering the often complex years of adolescence. Like a carp swimming in the wind, may you not be overwhelmed by any current, and may you grow—at your own pace—into who you are meant to be. As I approach my fifteenth Mother's Day, I find myself quietly returning to this feeling deep within me. ☺️Happy Mother's Day! Keiko Co-Owner,