June's exclusive pin club design, featuring a bunny version of Orihime.

The story of Tanabata is that of star-crossed lovers separated by the milky way, or amanogawa (天の川). Literally meaning river of the heavens, the milky way is pictured as a stream dividing the sky. Here, Orihime, the seamstress, would weave beautiful clothes. Fearing that she would never have time to find a lover, her father Tentei, lord of the heavens, introduced her to Hikoboshi, a herder living on the other side of the river.

The lovers became enamored with each other, and Orihime ceased weaving as Hikoboshi’s cows were left to wander the heavens. Seeing this, Tentei became angered and decided that the lovers should be separated on opposite sides of the milky way. Orihime begged her father to see Hikoboshi and he agreed that the lovers could meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, on the condition that their work was done. On their first meeting, with no way to cross the river, Orihime’s tears brought to her a flock of magpies which carried her over into her lover’s arms.

It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the two will be unable to meet that year due to surging of the river. Here’s hoping for clear skies so the two can find each other this year.

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Specifications:

• Hard enamel pin
• Gold plated
  
• Height: 38 mm