日本一の七夕、仙台七夕まつりが始まる

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is August sixth. This morning in Sendai, in northern Japan, the city's famous star festival begins — the streets fill with thousands of giant paper streamers. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

Today, August sixth, in Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture, the big summer Tanabata Festival begins. The festival continues until August eighth.

It means to begin.

On the covered shopping streets near the station, there are about three thousand Tanabata decorations. The long paper streamers sway in the wind — they are very beautiful.

It means a decoration.

The decorations are made of Japanese paper and bamboo. People from local shops and companies spend many months making them by hand.

It means to make.

Last night, there was a fireworks show on the eve of the festival. About sixteen thousand fireworks rose into the night sky over Sendai.

It means fireworks.

Tanabata is usually a July seventh event. But in Sendai, the festival is held in August, closer to the old calendar.

It means old times, or long ago.

Over the three days of the festival, about two million people come. Many tourists from other countries come too.

It means a tourist.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

Until August eighth.

About three thousand.

That's all for today. The Sendai Tanabata Festival runs until August eighth. If you ever walk under those three thousand paper streamers, you can make a wish of your own. See you next time!