Sendai Tanabata ema

There are 7 types of decorations used at the famous Tanabata celebration in Sendai, and each of them has its own meaning.

On this ema votive plaque found at a shrine in Sendai, we can see two of the Tanabata designs: the tanzaku paper cards, symbolizing the wish to progress in learning and calligraphy, and the fukinagashi paper windsocks, meaning the wish for improvement in arts.