Shichigosan 七五三

Today we celebrated shichigosan with Catie’s friend Angela. Shichi-Go-San, literally "Seven-Five-Three" is celebrated when girls are 3 and 7 years old and boys are 5 years old. The children dress in formal attire (typically kimono for girls) and the family visits a Shinto shrine to give thanks and pray for the child’s growth and well-being. The holiday is officially November 15, but people in Morioka typically celebrate it earlier because it gets so cold here. I guess a down coat kind of ruins the effect of wearing a kimono :-)

 

After lunch, Tomoko picked us up and took us back to her mom’s house. Mrs. Hirata has a lot of kimonos, both for adults and children. Some are left over from her daughters and others came from relatives or friends who didn’t want to keep them anymore. She had 2 lovely little kimonos out for the girls. 

Dressing two wiggly 3-year olds is no small task! It took Tomoko, her mom, and me a long time to get them ready. After dressing the girls in a layer of clothes to stay warm, we put on the under kimono- Catie’s was light pink and Angie’s red. This was tied on with a removable sash. Next was the kimono, tied around with the kimono belt. Then the big stiff obi, then the huge obi bow clipped in and tied on. Each bow was a work of art in itself! There were origami-like folded flowers, tassels, and bells over the elaborate bows. Finally, a soft sash-like obi was tied on and tucked into the main obi to hide all the other cords. Then the really hard part- the tabi! These white spat-sock combos separate the big toe from the rest of the other toes then clip around the back of the child’s heel. Not fun to put on! Completing the outfit was the hair piece and zouri (slightly lifted flip-flip like sandals). Once the girls were dressed, we got them outside and to the car. They each lost their zouri a few times and Catie had to be retied into her obi, but we eventually made it to Hachimangu Shrine (the same shrine that was the focus of the Morioka Fall Festival). 

At the shrine, we all climbed several flights of granite steps up to the shrine. There the girls got to pull thick ropes to ring hundreds of tiny bells. Then they clapped 3 times and prayed/made a wish. Catie really like the bell ringing part and tried several of the ropes! Good thing it was a week day in October, since there were only a few other girls celebrating their own shichigosan at the shrine with us. I suspect it could get a bit overwhelming on a weekend! 

 

We made it to Hachimangu Shrine!

the washing station

 

at first Catie didn't understand the bell ringing and tried to share Angela's rope

 

After the prayer, we entered the commercial portion of the celebration and allowed the girls to pick out a protection amulet to purchase (Catie picked a Hello Kitty one of course). We also bought them the traditional bag of chitose candy ( 千歳飴 thousand year candy), beautifully decorated with symbols of long life- cranes, turtles, pine, bamboo and plum. The bag contains a 2 sticks of candy- one red and one white and is supposed to express the parents' wish that their children lead long and prosperous lives. Although Catie wanted to dive into the candy right away, we wouldn’t let her eat it while wearing a kimono. 

 

The girls then “fished” for gold or red goldfish with paper fortunes stuffed inside. Once they caught their fish and Tomoko read the fortunes, they tied the omikuji (fortunes) onto poles outside the shrine. 

 

After a few more photos of the girls with their bags of chitose, we headed back to the Hirata house for snacks and a playdate. Catie and Angela, both now in sneakers, literally ran into the house and started ripping off their kimono. I might be fun to dress like a princess once in a while, but Catie got her fill after 10 minutes! 

NO, you cannot eat the candy yet!

poor Mrs. Hirata spent a lot of time chasing Catie down and adjusting her. As you can see, Catie was not a willing participant in these readjustments

sneakers at last!!!!!

We are SOOoo done with these clothes!

The whole experience was pretty special and certainly not something we’ll have a chance to do again. We just happened to be in the Japan when Catie was the right age and lucky enough to have made friends who were willing to share such an event with us. It was not hard for us to give thanks for Catie’s life and health and thanks and pray for her future this afternoon.