During Tanabata in Hokkaido, there is a custom called "Rosoku Morai" where children go from house to house singing "Rosoku da-se, da-se yo" (Give us candles, give us candles) to receive sweets. Although it has become a rare sight these days, let's explore what this unique tradition is all about.

Tanabata in Hokkaido is celebrated in two different periods: some areas celebrate on July 7th, based on the old lunar calendar, while others celebrate on August 7th, based on the new solar calendar. In Hakodate, in the Donan (Southern Hokkaido) area, Tanabata is on July 7th. On this day, children in Hakodate dress up in yukata, carry paper lanterns, and sing songs as they receive sweets from adults. The song they sing is the slightly unusual "Rosoku da-se, da-se yo." Its role is similar to "Trick or treat!" on Halloween.

This custom was once practiced throughout Hokkaido and is known as "Rosoku Morai" or sometimes "Rosoku Dase." The distinctive songs sung by the children also seem to vary by region.

In the Do-o (Central), Dohoku (Northern), and Doto (Eastern) areas, a typical version goes, "Rosoku da-se, da-se yo, dasanaito kacchakuzo, omake ni kamitsukuzo, kamitsuitara hanasanzo," which many people may have heard. It translates to, "Give us candles, give us candles, if you don't, I'll scratch you, and what's more, I'll bite you, and if I bite you, I won't let go!" In the Hakodate area of Donan, they sing something like, "Take ni tanzaku Tanabata matsuri, ooi ni iwaou, rosoku ippon choudai na," meaning "Tanabata festival with bamboo and paper strips, let's celebrate big, please give us one candle."

There are actually too many variations to list here, but the gist of it is, "Give us candles! If you don't, we'll bite you or something!"

According to Masako Odashima's book "Hokkaido's Annual Events" (Hokkaido Nenchu Gyoji), as of 1996, "Rosoku Morai" was practiced in various regions across the entire prefecture. However, as the years went by, the number of areas observing the custom gradually decreased, and it is now mostly known as a tradition that continues mainly in Hakodate.

But why exactly are the children asking for candles in this "Rosoku Morai" custom?

The reason children sing "Give us candles" has its roots in Hakodate. According to records remaining in the city, this festival began in the late Edo period. At that time, Hakodate had a festival where Nebuta-like floats and lanterns filled the streets, and candles were used to illuminate these floats.

The children would go around to each house to collect candles for the lights, which is why they sang, "Give us candles." However, due to factors such as the policies of the Meiji government, the Nebuta-like festival in Hakodate gradually disappeared, and there was no longer a need to collect candles. In the "Rosoku Morai" tradition that continues in Hakodate, what the children receive naturally shifted from candles to sweets, and it has been passed down to this day.

Although "Rosoku Morai" is not commonly seen today, its light quietly carries the lives and thoughts of people from the past. Whether you've sung "Rosoku da-se, da-se yo" before or not, taking a moment to think about this custom might just bring back quietly glowing summer memories.