This year the New Zealand Japan Festival coincides with the start of Matariki.

Students around New Zealand were asked to create and design a bright and bold banner themed around the celebrations of Matariki in Aotearoa and Tanabata (also known as the Star Festival) in Japan. Nayland College’s 9P4 won ‘Best Design for Year 9 – 13’ - the competition judges found the design eye-catching and the best banner in conveying both Tanabata and Matariki elements. The use of mixed media to create 3-dimensionalism was brilliant.

Originally based on legend of girls weaving cloths on a loom (hata) on platforms (tana) by the riverside. They were offerings to the Gods praying for good health. Later mixed with Star Festival from China where the weaver star (Princess Vega) falls in love with the shepherd star (Altair). Separated by the Milky Way by her angry father, they are able to meet only once a year on 7 July.

9P4 learned about the Tanabata Festival - we looked at pictures of what happened at the festival and did a quiz asking them what they knew about Japan. As part of this learning, the class took a field trip to Miyazu Gardens, which is Nelson's Japanese garden for our sister city Miyazu. The class spent some time doing initial designs for the banner, looking at Māori art symbols and how they could integrate these with symbols from the Tanabata festival such as bamboo trees and wishes.