短冊に願い事を書いてみましょう！ — Let's write our wishes on the tanzaku strips! (Cultural · Seasonal, Casual — to friend, JLPT N4)

Gesture & etiquette

Present a colorful tanzaku strip with a brush or fine-tip pen; writing vertically (top to bottom) is traditional; tie the finished strip to bamboo with a gentle knot; the act of choosing words thoughtfully is itself part of the ritual.

Tanabata (七夕, July 7) celebrates the legendary meeting of star deities Orihime and Hikoboshi across the Milky Way. Wishes on colored paper strips (短冊, tanzaku) are hung on bamboo branches. Colors carry meaning: green (health), blue (wisdom), yellow (friendship), red (sincerity), purple (longevity). Major Tanabata festivals in Sendai (August) and Hiratsuka are spectacular.