Koinobori are cloth streamers in the shape of a carp which are flown on a tall pole on Childeren’s Days, May 5. The flying of koinobori symbolizes the wish that the boys in the family will grow to be strong and courageous as the carp. It means if you see Koinobori, the family has boy(s).
The black carp (Magoi) at the top represents the father, the red carp (Higoi) represents the mother, and the last carp represents the child (traditionally son), with an additional carp added for each subsequent child with color and position denoting their relative age.
