A Community Spirit Soars: Wishes Gathered and Honored at Marui Family Shiki

From July 4 to August 18, 2026, Marui Family Shiki, located in Nakano, Tokyo, organized a unique participatory event themed "Deliver My Wish to the Night Sky." The event encouraged local residents to share their hopes and aspirations by writing them down on colorful strips of paper, known as tanzaku. This initiative coincided with the seasonal rituals celebrating the opening and closing of the climbing period to Mt. Fuji, symbolized by the nearby Tagoyama Fujizuka.

The event attracted significant participation, with a total of 1,839 tanzaku collected during the period. On August 20, the submitted wishes were tallied, and these heartfelt messages were then offered at Shikishima Shrine on August 20. Following this, the culmination of the event took place on September 1 with a ceremonial burning of the wishes at Tagoyama Fujizuka, allowing community hopes to be sent into the universe.

The Five Colors of Hope

The initiative invited patrons to express their future ambitions, words of encouragement, and messages to loved ones on colorful tanzaku strips. Each color represented one of the five virtues from ancient Chinese philosophy—Li (礼), Ren (仁), Xin (信), Zhi (智), and Yi (義). Participants selected the color that resonated with their personal wish.

Of the total tanzaku submitted, the pink strips expressing gratitude, representing Li, were the most frequent, with 497 entries. Closely following, there were 491 light blue strips wishing for the health of loved ones, symbolizing Ren. The overwhelming sentiment was one of warmth and community connection, reflecting sincere wishes for each other’s well-being.

Preserving the Culture of Sending Wishes

This event underlines the historical and cultural significance of Shikishima Shrine, which embodies the ongoing devotion to Mt. Fuji. Every year, the shrine facilitates rituals marking the start and end of the mountain climbing season. Traditionally, people have journeyed here to express their desires and prayers toward the mountain.

Marui Family Shiki’s initiative aimed to connect the community with this treasured cultural practice by accepting and ceremoniously delivering messages to the shrine. Participants shared sincere affirmations like, "May my family stay healthy" and "I wish to greet each day with a smile." Each one of these personal wishes became part of a larger tapestry, representing the heartfelt sentiments of the community.

A Sustainable Approach

Interestingly, some of the tanzaku were made from leftover paper generated during the printing process, thanks to the collaboration with Angie Co., Ltd. This initiative not only breathed new life into surplus materials but also allowed the community's wishes to be materialized on paper that would have otherwise gone unused. Marui Family Shiki is committed to promoting sustainability in partnership with local businesses.

Event Overview

- Event Name: Deliver My Wish to the Night Sky
- Duration: July 4 - August 18, 2026
- Venue: Marui Family Shiki, 1st Floor Special Venue

This event was not just a simple gathering; it was a heartfelt expression of unity and cultural continuity, showcasing the power of community spirit and the importance of connecting with traditional practices. The legacy of sending wishes into the universe thrives at Marui Family Shiki, where together, hopes and dreams ascend to the night sky.