Jirachi (Tanabata style)

I am very happy today to show your my new art with Jirachi, on the theme of Tanabata.
Tanabata (七夕節 lit. July 7) is a festival that, as its Japanese literary name suggests, takes place every July 7. This festival, also called the Star Festival (Hoshi Matsuri 星祭り), celebrates the meeting between two stars, two lovers who can only meet once a year during the Tanabata, according to japanese folklore. During this festival, Japanese people write their wishes on small pieces of paper called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo branches.

Why am I telling you about the Tanabata? Because Jirachi is directly inspired by it. Jirachi looks like a star or a comet, and if you're a great observant, has 3 tanzaku on his head. In Pokémon lore, Jirachi wakes up only every 1000 years, for only 7 days, to grant 3 wishes, then goes back to sleep for 1000 years. 7 days ? Well, well... Doesn't the number 7 remind you of the Tanabata? Its star design obviously recalls the theme of the stars linked to the festival. Also, the 3 wishes that Jirachi can make also correspond to the number of tanzaku. Everything sticks!

What is good with his concept is that it also speaks to us in the West, since in our Western culture, shooting stars are also linked to wishes. Jirachi is the kind of Pokémon with such a incredible design!