There are seasonal events in Japan called Sekku, which originated from traditional events held in China—days when odd numbers would overlap on the calendar were considered unlucky days, and people would stay indoors during these days. As these events came over to Japan, the Japanese culture and tradition incorporated this in a unique way that spread throughout the country. People feasted on in-season foods, full of life, to wish for good health, and the tradition of celebrating at the change of seasons has been handed down through many generations to the present.

Events of Go-sekku that are still practiced today are Jinjitsu no Sekku, Joshi no Sekku, Tango no Sekku, Shichiseki no Sekku and Choyo no Sekku. In this article, we will introduce the origins, history and food culture of these five festivals.