Kodomo no Hi is a national holiday in Japan that has evolved over hundreds of years. Centuries ago, there were two festivals that celebrated girls and boys separately: Momo no Sekku (Peach Festival) for girls and Shōbu no Sekku (Iris Festival) for boys, respectively. As Japan changed, Momo no Sekku became known as Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) and Shōbu no Sekku
turned into Tango no Sekku (Boy’s Day). Traditionally, on the fifth day of the fifth month,
families wished their male children future success and long life by displaying koi nobori (carp windsocks), a symbol of strength, and mushaningyō (warrior figurines) of famous Japanese heroes.

Following World War II, Tango no Sekku once again changed to Kodomo no Hi—a holiday that is part of Japan’s Golden Week—which celebrates both boys and girls. In May, in honor of Children’s Day, many families in Japan and Hawai‘i still display the koi nobori outside their homes; however parents are often doing so to show their appreciation and wish for the future success of their young ones—both male and female.