Chirimen-Asobi is a way to make up seasonal small gadgets with used fabrics. “Bon” and “Tsukimi” are the most famous among typical traditional events in Japanese calendar. Bon is one of summer features held from 13th to 16th August. In Japan, it is said dead people and ancestors come back from heaven to the real world once a year at this time and people alive should respect and pray for their soul. As ancestors are said to ride on fast horse when they come and ride on slow cow when they go back, the “summer decoration” symbolize horse by cucumber and cow by eggplant.

On the other hand, “Tsukimi”, another seasonal feature, is held in September or October now, on the date of 15th August by lunar calendar. On this day, dumpling, rice cake and corm are offered to celebrate a harvest and admire the full moon. In the present era, many Chirimen-Asobi have the Western festival motives like Christmas or Halloween, and the one like “Beni Kingyo (gold fish)” provides coolness as an interior item in summer.