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Shonan-Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival,Past&Present |
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Because of the location of the Navy powder plant, Hiratsuka was
extensively damaged by the larage-scale air attack in World War
II and was reduced to ruins.
However, during the post war rehabilitation, it made great studies
in building itself back up from the ashes. After going through with
the Five-year Reconstruction Work, they carried out the Rehabilitation
Festival in July 1950, just after rice-planting was over.
Many farmers was out to see it, which made the festival very crowded.
This successful start encouraged the citizens to make an even bigger
Tanabata Festival modeled after Sendai City in 1951.First a group
of downtown merchants launched a plan to promote summer sales by
displaying special bamboo decorations as a token of appreciation
to their customers and shoppers. Then some original theme songs
like "Hiratsuka Tanabata Ondo," and "Beniyacho Ondo,"
and "Hiratsuka Koishiya," produced in 1952, 1953 spiced
up the festival.
Since the 7th Tanabata Festival in 1957, it has been held by mainly
Hiratsuka City Hall as a symbol rehabilitation of commerce and industries
and has played an important role in representing the city of Hiratsuka.
Thus Hiratsuka has come to be known as the first site of the Tanabata
Festival ranking with Sendai's. |
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- the 1st festival, July 4-8, 1951(its
100,000 visitors)
The Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival which had taken the place
of the Rehabilitation Festival was started as a symbol
of city's success. Although the bamboo decorations themselves
were limited, each handmade flowers represented the merchants'
spirit and dedication.
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the 5th festival, July 2-7, 1955(its 1million
visitors)
In order to spread the spirit of the festival throughout the
city, they carried out Bamboo Decoration Movement. The beautiful
handmade flowers made of the Japanese traditional paper could
not withstand heavy rain so plastic was used. The 1st public
recording on the radio program was done. Tanabata Memorial
Postcards were also put on sale in this year.
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the 7th festival, July 5-9, 1957(its 1.5million
visitors)
Tanabata became citywide festival and the main host oraganization
shifted from the merchants' group to Hiratsuka City Hall.
Aloha shirts decided on as festival uniform have spiced up
the festival of the summer poetic charm. Miss Tanabata was
elected by citizen ballot from showjudges resident in Kanagawa
prefecture not from the citizens.
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- the 10th festival, July 6-10, 1960(its
1.5million visitors)
The theme song, "Tanabata Ondo," (words by Sadao
Togawa, music by Masao Yoneyama)was given out for the
10th anniversary.
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- the 17th festival, July 6-10, 1967(its
2.35million visitors)
There were so many people who came to see the festival
that 42 extra trains named "Tanabatago" were
operated.
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- the 20th festival, July 7-11, 1970(its
3.3million visitors)
The theme songs, "Tanabata Ondo," and "Tanabata
Odori," (words by Miyuki Ishimoto, music by Shosuke
Ichikawa)were given out for the 20th anniversary. Strict
vehicle traffic control was enforced on Route 1 during
the festival.
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- the 23rd festival, August 4-8, 1973(its
850,000 visitors)
A railway station building construction project, housing
a shopping complex caused some trouble and it was thought
that perhaps the festival might have to be stopped, but
a group in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry took responsibility
for the festival in order not to end the tradition of
Tanabata.
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- the 25th festival, July 4-8, 1975(its
3.27million visitors)
It's the 25th anniversary. In order to involve the whole
city in the festival the Miss Tanabata Grand Parade was
made throughout the city.
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the 26th festival, July 4-8, 1976(its
2.5million visitors)
Although in 1957, Miss Tanabata had been elected by actresses
working in the movie company of Shochiku, from 1976 Miss
Tanabata was elected by citizens and an actress played the
role of Queen Tanabata. 194 women entered the contest.
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- the 29th festival, July 5-9, 1979(its
3.15million visitors)
Hiratsuka Junior Chamber gave out the theme music with
drums, "Tanabata Daiko," (music by Hachidai
Nakamura.) The largest number of visitors since the establishment
of JR Hiratsuka Station was recorded.
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- the 30th festival, July 4-8, 1980(its
3.1million visitors)
For the 30th anniversary, the campaign character of the
festival was decided. Various events and programs were
held such as the special exhibition, the commemorative
publication of "Tanabata, its 30th anniversary"
etc.
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the 35th festival, July 5-9, 1985(its 3.27million
visitors)
"Jinya Daiko," "Hokusyu Oni Daiko," and
"Tanabata Daiko" enlivened the festival as a competitive
performance. Each of them is the traditional drum playing
of the Hiratsuka friendship cities, Takayama and Hanamaki.
For the 35th anniversary,the city of Takayama participated
the bamboo decoration event. The uniform of Aloha shirts was
renewed its design for 5 years. At the same time,an international
exposition held in Tsukuba city colored the bamboo decorations
with their motifs.
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the 40th festival, July 5-9, 1990(its 3.58million
visitors)
For the 40th anniversary, the statue of "Deai no Zou"
was located at the JR Hiratsuka station north plaza. In addition,the
festival included Misses and PR ladies those who came to participate
in the parades from friendship cities of Takayama, Hanamaki
and the surrounding areas of Kamakura, Fujisawa, Chigasaki,
and Samukawa. Some of the bamboo decorations were made to
look like the popular character in the animation, "Chibi
Maruko-chan," or after the wedding celebration of Prince
Akishinonomiya.
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the 43rd festival, July 7-11, 1993(its 3.61million
visitors)
Since then, the festival was renamed "Shonan-Hiratsuka
Tanabata Festival," and it refreshed the entire atmosphere.
Due to the fine weather from the opening date, July 7th, to
the final day of the festival and good advertising the largest
number of visitors in the history of Tanabata was recorded
at 3.61 million. Regarding street rendors, Street Rendor Committee
was organized and had a good effect on the control of them.
Some of the bamboo decorations were made to look like the
popular soccer players in J-league, or after the wedding celebration
of the Crown Prince.
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the 45th festival, July 7-11, 1995(its 3.18million
visitors)
For the 45th anniversary, some of the commemorative attractions
by Brazilian samba dancers and the couple of Orihime(Vega)
and Hikoboshi(Altair), welcomed the visitors. Among some of
the bamboo decorations of the popular characters were the
Major Leaguer Hideo Nomo and the tennis player Kimiko Date.
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the 50th festival, July 7-11, 2000(its 3.19million
visitors)
Unfortunately, a typhoon hit Hiratsuka on the very first day
of the Tanabata Festival last year and all the decorations
on the bamboo trees had to be taken down. But the following
day the weather cleaned up, and most programs were held as
had been planned. There were also some special events including
"the Tanabata Summit", "Historical Recollection
Exhibit", in memory of the 50th anniversary of the event.
We had more bamboo decorations than in previous years. There
were even decorations of Ryoko Tamura and Naoko Takahashi
who both won gold medals for Japan at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
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