By AKIHIRO INOSE/ Staff Writer
May 3, 2022 at 18:51 JST
KAZO, Saitama Prefecture—A Ukrainian flag joined a gigantic “koinobori” (carp streamer) fluttering in the sky here on May 3.
Koinobori are traditionally hoisted across the nation to celebrate Children’s Day on May 5.
But the city of Kazo, famed for producing koinobori, decided to hoist the jumbo carp streamer, measuring 100 meters long, on the bank of the Tonegawa river on May 3. That day not only marks the Constitution Day national holiday but also Kazo city’s annual Citizens’ Peace Festival.
This year’s festival was the first in three years. It was canceled in the past two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 3, around 10,000 people came to the bank of the river to see the streamer.
They also saw something else in the sky for the first time in the festival’s history.
The yellow and blue flag of Ukraine, still under attack from Russian forces, made an appearance in the spring breeze. It measured 1 meter in height and 2 meters in width.
Kazo Mayor Moriyoshi Kakuta said the flying of the flag was to “pray for a swift and peaceful solution to the war.”
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A gigantic carp streamer flutters above the bank of the Tonegawa river in Kazo, Saitama Prefecture, on May 3, as part of the city’s Citizens’ Peace Festival. (Provided by Kazo city government)
