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On May 5, each year, Japan celebrates a national holiday called Children's Day.

It's a day for families to gather to honour the children in their lives and to wish them a

lifetime of health and happiness. In 1997, in the city of Korbe, located on the southern side of

Japan's main island, Honshu, Children's Day had added significance. Two years prior,

Korbe experienced a devastating earthquake that killed 4,600 of its people. As the city re-built,

its residents looked towards the children as a symbol of hope for their future.

Dating back thousands of years, Children's Day is buried deep in ancient tradition.

Large colourful carp streamers are hung outside houses of those with children to symbolise

strength and success, whilst dolls of famous samurai warriors are proudly displayed indoors.

Families treat themselves with kasha wa mochi, rice cakes filled with sweet bean paste.

Some families on Children's Day bath in a tub sprinkled with iris leaves and roots.

It is believed that the iris promotes good health. Not only that, bathing in iris leaves is said

to ward off evil spirits.

Approximately 540 km southwest of Tokyo on Osaka Bay, the city of Korbe is divided into

9 different areas called wards. The sumer ward situated along the coastline of Korbe

is an adilic spot with a white sandy beach, boardwalks, cafes and cherry blossom trees visible

on the surrounding hill sides. However, even the beautiful scenery could not conceal the awful

site that was presenting itself on residential streets of the area in March 1997.

Dead cats, some strangled and others mutilated, were found on the sidewalks.

...