Koinobori (Carp Streamers) Coloring Pages

Guardians of Children Swimming Cheerfully in the Sky! Koinobori (Carp Streamers)

Koinobori (Carp Streamers) are big streamers displayed on May 5th for "Tango no Sekku (Children's Day)." People put them up to wish for children to grow up healthy and strong. They take in lots of wind and look so powerful as they swim through the sky. A long time ago in Japan, this event was to celebrate the growth of boys. But today, it has become a famous spring tradition in Japan to wish for the healthy growth of all children.

How Koinobori (Carp Streamers) Started

During the Edo period, samurai families had a custom of putting up flags called "nobori." Townspeople who saw this thought, "We want to make flags to cheer on our children, too!" It is said that they started by making flags in the shape of carp, which live strongly in ponds and rivers. In the Edo period, people only displayed one black carp (magoi).

Types and Roles of Koinobori (Carp Streamers)

Each carp streamer has a different meaning depending on its color and shape.

• Fukinagashi (Five-color Streamer): The five-colored flag fluttering at the very top. It protects you from bad things.
• Magoi (Black Carp): The biggest black carp. It represents the father and looks very strong.
• Higoi (Red Carp): The second biggest red carp. It represents the mother. A long time ago, it used to represent the child.
• Kogoi (Child Carp): Small blue, green, or orange carp. They represent the children. People sometimes add a new carp whenever the family grows.
• Yaguruma (Arrow Wheel): The wheel at the top of the pole that spins around with a clicking sound. It is a sign to tell God, "There is a child here!"

Why "Carp"?

Carp are very strong fish that can swim easily even in fast rivers. An old story from China tells a legend called "Toryumon," where a carp that swam up a waterfall turned into a dragon. Because of this story, people put their wishes into Koinobori (Carp Streamers) so you can overcome any hardship and grow up wonderfully.

Let’s Color Them Bright!

When you color your Koinobori (Carp Streamers) coloring page, try using bright colors that stand out against the blue sky!

• Scale patterns: If you color each scale a different color or make a gradient, it will look super fancy. It is also fun to trace the edges with a gold pen to make them shiny and cool!
• The 5 colors of the streamer: The traditional rule is to color the streamer in 5 colors: blue, red, yellow, white, and black (or purple). But it will also look wonderful if you color it in your favorite rainbow colors!
• Wind movement: To show the Koinobori (Carp Streamers) blowing in the wind, try coloring the belly a little lighter. It will look 3D and ready to swim away!

Imagine the Sky View

Draw any background you like for your swimming Koinobori (Carp Streamers).

• The weather: Color the sky bright blue for a sunny day, or orange for a nice sunset.
• Things around them: It is fun to draw big summer clouds nearby or birds like swallows flying around.
• Family faces: A fun idea is to draw the faces of the carp to look like you and your family!

Were They Only Black at First?

When Koinobori (Carp Streamers) started back in the Edo period, people actually only displayed black Magoi (father carp). In the Meiji period, red Higoi (mother carp) were added. Then, in the Showa period, blue Kogoi (child carp) joined in, creating the "family" look we see today. Koinobori (Carp Streamers) changed and grew along with the times!

The 5 Colors of the Wind Streamer Have "Magic"

The top streamer has five colors: blue, red, yellow, white, and black. These colors come from an ancient Chinese idea called the "Five Elements." They represent everything in nature. People believed that putting these five colors together made a "super strong barrier" to protect children from sickness and bad luck.

Carp Don't Move Even on a "Cutting Board"!?

Carp are known as very brave fish. When cooks prepare them, carp stay calm on the cutting board instead of flopping around wildly. Samurai loved this because they thought it looked cool and brave! That is one reason why carp were chosen for Koinobori (Carp Streamers).