A Lesser Seen Japanese Rite of Passage: O-KUIZOME ( お食い初め), in which, besides the baby, A ROCK is the STAR!
Various foods and STONE for ritual tasting
Being a parent involves almost constant concern over children`s health and development. Even in these days of relatively advanced medical science and easilly accessible health care, parents sigh in relief at the passing of each flu season and each epidemic scare. It is hard to imagine what is must have been like in past ages.
That it why it is only natural that parents, no matter where in the world, celebrate their childrens growth, and that traditionally there have arisen ceremonies and rites meant to provide children with a little extra, one could say MAGICAL assistanc, in their road to reaching adulthhod in health and safety.
In Japan, with its great tradition of festive decoration and dress , certain rites and celebrations related to age have become a popular subjects for photographers, professional and amateur, and pictures of these events, especially SHICHI-GO-SAN ( in which children 3, 5, and 7 years of age, dressed in traditional wear, visit shrines with their parents) and Coming of Age Day ( in which 20 year-olds, often wearing kimono gather to celebrate), can often be seen in posters, guidebooks, coffee-table books and magazines, as in the photo album of many tourists who have visited Japan. Even if you dont have a camera, having a look at these events is an unforgetable Japanese encounter.
Read more about SHICHI-GO-SAN: http://blog.alientimes.org/2009/11/shichi-go-san-celebrations-uniquely-extravagant-in-ibaraki/
and Coming of Age Day: http://blog.alientimes.org/2009/01/tsukubas-coming-of-age-ceremony-seijin-shiki-proceeds-almost-without-incident/
Only the stone remains ( after the family members have eaten the rest)
The fact is though, that most of Japan`s numerous age related ceremonies and celebrations ( and there ARE many of them!), are NOT so easilly or often seen by foreigners, either tourist or resident. One of the most interesting ( and popular, for Japanese families) of these, is the ceremony which is usually called O-Kui zome ( お食い初め, literally FIRST EATING), and takes place when a baby is about 100 days old.
Let me tell you about it.
The Okuizome ( pronounced O kui zoh meh) , is a ritual feeding , in which various foods, usually rice, fish and vegetables, are put against the babies lips with chopsticks. Interestingly, something else besides food is touched to the babies mouth and gums- A SMOOTH, ROUND, STONE- which among other effects, is supposed to help the childs teeth and head properly harden.
There are records of this custom having existed in the Heian Period ( 794-1185), and thus it has been around for at least a thousand years. In the earliest references it was called MOMOGA NO IWAI ( 百日祝, meaning the One-hundredth Day Celebration). By now it has spread and is practised throughout Japan, though naturally with plenty of regional variation.
In Tsukuba, at least in some of its neighborhoods, the kuizome is held on the 110th day. In other area it is on the 100th day or the 120th. Anyway, generally speaking, the ceremony is held at AROUND the 100th day, and the most convenient day for relatives to gather ( probably the weekend) is usually set for the occassion.
Each food, and the stone is ritually put to the babies lips and gums
Though the kuizome has traditionally been and is still usually held at home, these days, busy families might reserve a room at a traditional Japanese restaurant. In Tsukuba, Ichinoya, a restaurant which caters to a wide assortment of traditional celebrations, offers special Okuizome packages.
Though it is alright to use everyday household dishes, for this occassion, most families buy a special laquer tray and bowls ( there are different colors for boys and girls depending on the region), and a pair of chopsticks made from the wood of a willow tree.Naturally, those celebrating at a restaurant save themselves the trouble of having to prepare these things themselves.
As for the foods required, the essentials are:
A fish ( usually the celebratory TAI, sea bream), which should have its head and tail still attached ( this symbolizes strengthening of the neck)
Beans ( these represent loyalty and diligence since the Japanese word for beans MAME is a homophone for these virtues).
Boiled vegetables ( usually seasonal, and might include some kelp ( konbu), whose Japanese name reminds one of the word yoroKOBU - to be glad)
Soup
and of course- rice. Either plain white rice, or the celebratory sticky rice called SEKIHAN.
In Tsukuba, it is traditional to include UDON noodles among the kuizome dishes, as it represents LONG LIFE.
The stone or stones ( depending on the region), which should be small round, smooth and flat, can be either taken from a riverbank ( and washed!), or gotten at a shrine. Especially at the shrine where the baby had its MIYAMAIRI ( first visit to a shrine), when it was about one month old. Again, reserving a restaurant saves one the trouble of finding or getting the stones!
The Ritual Feeding
The ritual meal ( of course the babys are too young to actually EAT the foods), is an expression of the hope that the child grow to enjoy a wide variety of foods and that he/she never go hungry.
Though there is variation from region to region a common order of fake feeding would be: rice, soup, rice, fish, rice, vegetables, rice, beans- repeated three times. Some families might actually put ONE GRAIN OF RICE into the childs mouth
The rice could be said to be a symbolic ENERGIZER put to the babies lips to provide him/her with a dose of LIFE ENERGY.
Finally, the stone is put to the lips and gums. As I said, this is done in the hope that the child`s teeth will grow strong, his/her head and neck frim and solid, and spirit strong .
The stone is also intended as a spiritual energizer in that it can be considered to be a YORISHIRO （依代), a receptacle or antennae for receiving the Goddess of Childbirth- the UBUGAMI ( 産神）. The round shape of the stones reflects the shape of the mirrors found in shrines ( like that which attracted the Sun Goddess Amaterasu) and in turn the Kagami mochi ( mirror shaped rice cakes used to attract the God of the New Year) eaten at the beginnig of the year for spiritual re-invigoration.
Usually, the person chosen to do the ritual feeding is a grandparent ( the same sex as the child), or the oldest available relative, as having an aging person perform the ritual was thought to guarantee long life to the child.
Naturally, all the relatives ( and or neighbors) who attend, enjoy lots of eating and drinking! All in all, its a charming and delicious way for a family to get together and celebrate a child`s 100th day!
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Amazing Turn-Around ! Moxibustion Gets Fetus to Move Out Of The Breech Position and Thus, C-Section is Avoided!
Acupuncture, moxibustion and massage teacher and therapist Naruto Yoshida
This is testament to the indefatiguable efforts of generations of traditional Chinese physicians who over the years built up a vast body of data on which points of the body, when stuck with needles, pressed, or heated, affected OTHER specific parts of the body. Their endeavor goes all the way back to a time when someone realized that a pain in one part of their body, perhaps the lower back, suddenly disappeared when another part of their body was pierced, perhaps by an arrow.
No matter how they hit upon the idea, this system of treating bodily complaints became a part of the STANDARD PRACTICE of maintaining human health within the vast traditional Chinese cultural sphere of influence, including of course, Japan ( to which these techniques were probably introduced in the 6th century).
In recent decades, these traditional forms of East-Asian medical treatment have become more and more accepted outside their usual home turf and acupuncture clinics are now common in the US and many European countries.
( more than 30 years ago James Reston, a highly respected journalist for The New York Times, was in China on assignment and had to be hospitalized for what I think was appendicitis. After his surgery his pain was controlled with acupuncture. The reports of his experience helped make Americans more open minded about this, then, very exotic for of medical treatment.)
Though stories of the successful treatment of headaches, stiff necks and lower-back pain are impressive, for me, the MOST AMAZING thing I had ever heard of acupuncture and moxibustion`s powers was that it could be used to get a fetus in the breech position ( with its head up) into the right position ( with the head down), merely with the application of heat to the small toe!
A tiny cone of MOXA placed on the outer side of the little toe
It sounds incredible, but I have found that it really does often work, even when the pregnancy is in its late stages.
Recently, I talked with Naruto Yoshida Sensei, a teacher and practitioner of acupuncture, moxibustion and massage therapy, who had just successfully gotten a soon-to-be-born fetus to turn over into the proper position, thus sparing the expectant ( though anxious) mother from having to have a Caesarean section.
This is what the treatment involved in this particular case:
When Yoshida Sensei first met the patient, he talked with her to try to gauge her emotional state. Finding her to be quite stressed about her baby being in the breech position ( and dont pregnant women and their husbands have enough to be worried about already), and thus probably stiff and TIGHT throughout her body, he decided to begin with some soft massage. He gently worked on her shoulders, lower back, arms, legs, hands and feet.
Feeling that she had become appropriately relaxed and phyically loosened up, he had the patient lie on her side. He then proceeded to place a tiny cone made up of the mugwort plant on the side of the small toe of her right foot, and proceeded to burn it. This took a few minutes and gave her a slight burning sensation. This was then repeated two more times.
The same was done to the small toe of her left foot.
A SENENKYU applied to the same spot
This acupuncture ( and moxibustion) point on the small toe is called the SHI IN NO KYU, and this spot which, when stimulated in the proper way, gets the fetus to turn upside down ( which in this case is the right side up!)
As is usual with acupuncture or moxibustion, one time does not always do the trick. In this case as well, especially considering the late stage of the pregnancy, it took two sessions with Yoshida Sensei for things to take a proper turn. And this happened a few days after the last treatment. The patient had continued the treatments on her own at home, with a special moxibustion applicator ( with a small base), called a SENENKYU.
What a relief for the mother-to-be. She can now go ahead with a natural childbirth, which is what she wanted.
And for us, it gives us an dramatic proof of moxibustions powers ( though 100 percent success cannot, of course be guaranteed.
The SHI-IN NO KYU point on the little toe
By the way, the English word moxibustion, or moxa treatment derives from one of the Japanese words used for the plant mugwort- MOGUSA.
Another word for the same plant is YOMOGI. And I have recently written of how it is used in an important sprintime snack in Japan- KUSA MOCHI.
A SENENKYU applicator, on the left and a moxa cone, on the right
Another interesting point that I would like to mention is that for many older Japanese people moxibustions brings back bad memories of childhood punishment! It was not unusual for parents to discipline their kids by making them sit and endure the little moxa cones buring on their hands.
By the way, in Japanese acupuncture is HARI 、and moxibustion OKYU.
POSTSCRIPT- Acupuncture and Asthma
Right after I had completed and posted the original version of this article, I set off to join a group (consisting of family and friends) at a Chinese restaurant ( which are always more fun with large groups- you can share more dishes!).
Sitting next to me, was a old buddy, who also happens to be a native New Yorker. When I asked him how his day had been, much to my surprise, he told me that he had just come from acupuncture treatment ( every day is teeming with coincidence) !
Apparently, he had once gone to a clinic because he had been having some sort of pain, but when the acupuncturist found out that my friend suffered from asthma he quickly and confidently asserted that he could treat that as well.
According to my friend,the treatments HAVE been effective, and he has in fact been able to cut down on his intake of prescribed medication.
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And Still More Food For Autumn Foraging In Tsukuba: MUKAGO (or NUKAGO)
I was on my way to a little adventure in the woods surrounding the ruins of Konda Castle, near Sakura Junior High School. As I turned off the road and headed onto a little dirt trail, I noticed a neighbor of mine busily doing something by a bush of some sort. I called out a greeting so as not to startle her (Have you noticed that when Japanese are doing work outside, they never seem to glance up or around? I always attribute this to a deep focus on what they are doing, which is probably true, though some have told me that it's just a way of avoiding having to say hello!), and then I asked her what she was doing. "I'm picking NUKAGO," she said, "why dont you join me?" I thought, "Well, why not?!"
Nukago is the archaic name (still often used by native Ibarakians) for MUKAGO (零余子), which look like tiny potatoes (they are actually tiny yams) clinging delicately to vines which grow out of the stems of the yama imo ( Japanese yams). I say delicately, because to be picked, they merely have to be touched and they come right off. I helped my neighbor gather up a small bag-full. She said she was going to cook them up with the rice in her rice cooker (some people also add ginkgo nuts and some kombu stock). Some Ibarakians also fry, roast, or boil them with salt, sake, soy sauce, etc. I found some original recipes online as well.
Mukago can actually be found on sale at some supermarkets for about 500 yen a fistful (as you can see in the blog linked above), but buying them could never match the fun of finding and picking them yourself. Kids, especially, always enjoy cooking up what they have foraged.
Many of your Japanese friends might not have ever tasted or even heard of mukago (also remember that in Ibaraki it is often called nukago), and those who HAVE might not rave about their taste. Still, having mukago at least once in autumn is considered a MUST by many, since it is a rustic symbol of the season and a welcome change of pace from just plain ol' rice.
Mukago can be found in this area throughout autumn. In English they are called wild yam propagules (or bulbils) as they are how the yam plants propagate (by dropping these little babies to the ground). You can find them in wild fields, by the side of the road, and even in some parks.
Happy hunting!
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Celebrating a First Birthday the Traditional Japanese Way- with ISSHO MOCHI (一升餅), 2 kilograms of pounded rice, strapped to the child`s back!
Two round, pounded rice-cakes (mochi) in traditional celebratory colors- red and white
Since the end of World War II, it has become more and more common for the Japanese to celebrate their birthdays ON THEIR BIRTHDAY! This might sound strange. I mean, what other way IS there to celebrate a birthday? Well, in the case of the Japanese, instead of celebrating as they do now, with birthday cakes, presents, and the singing of HAPPY BIRTHDAY ( sung with a Japanese accent as HAPPY BAASDAY to you!) on or around the day and month on which the celebrant was actually born, traditionally the Japanese would celebrate their birthdays, or more correctly- GROWING ONE YEAR OLDER, at New Year`s with rice cakes ( mochi), and other special new Year`s dishes ( and later in their history with soba noodles).
A one-year-old boy struggling to stand with festive rice cakes strapped to his back!
This means that on New Year`s Eve ( Omisoka), ALL Japanese used to consider themselves as having all AGED ONE YEAR . In other words, New Year`s ( O-Shogatsu) was everyones birthday! This made for some strange situations, especially considering that babies were traditionally considered to already be ONE YEAR OLD AT THE TIME OF BIRTH.Thus, a baby born two weeks ( or even two days) before the New Year, would be considered to be TWO YEARS OLD at New Years, although they he/she was in fact only WEEKS old.
The mochi (rice cakes) are wrapped in a FUROSHI (wrapping cloth) which is tied over the child`s shoulder
This way of determining a person`s age ( starting with one year of age at the time of birth) is called KAZOE-DOSHI, and is still used sometimes today when talking about when to hold certain traditional ceremonies ( such as purification for unlucky ages- YAKU BARAI ,etc.).
And though nowadays it is on a persons birthday that one is recognized as having aged by one year ( this is now the legally accepted system, as well), we can still witness the existence of the old concept of everyone celebrating their age at one time each January on Coming -of-Age Day, when all twenty year olds celebrate their attainment of adulthood together on the same day.
As you can imagine, one-year olds are not very comfortable with 2 kilograms of pounded rice strapped to their backs!
Traditionally,there WAS one time a persons actual birthday was celebrated ( with no connection to New Year`s)- the first anniversary of birth- what we would now called the first birthday ( though in the old days in Japan the child would have been considered at least two on his first birthday!). The reason for this is probably because in the days of high infant mortality, a child surviving his/her first year was something truly special to celebrate.
This event has been ( and still is) called HATSU TANJO (初誕生), in Japanese, and there is a very unique way of celebrating the occassion ( though there are several variations in the customs depending on region and family). In its most common form it is called ISSHO MOCHI (一升餅). One SHO (升, about two kilograms) of sticky rice is pounded into MOCHI- large round cakes ( now these are usually ordered from a shop), and then , most typically, these are wrapped up in a FUROSHIKI ( a medium sized cloth) and then TIED ONTO THE ONE YEAR OLD CHILDS BACK!
This is quite a heavy load for a one-year old to bear, and they are sure to cry, or at least KVETCH. It is usually up to the parents to help the child stand for a few seconds, and maybe prop him/her up againt the wall ( being VERY careful that the furoshiki is not putting pressure on the child`s neck!).
After this is done, the child`s future occupation is divined by laying out a few objects and waiting to see which one he/she picks out. Traditionally, these have been an abacus, a writing brush, and a scythe, etc. for a boy, and scissors, a book and a pin case, etc. for girls. These days, however, families can have fun by putting out all kinds of things representing different fields and occupations.
Its customary to have the child to stand for just a few seconds ( with support of course!) with the load on his/her back
In the old days this was usually a major event with a wide range of relatives, neighbors and good friends being invited for the ceremony and a festive meal. Now it is more usual to have just the nuclear family, or perhaps the grandparents, and aunts and uncles on hand for this unique and amusing event.
It is also customary for the childs future profession to be divined by placing various objects in front of him/her and seeing item is selected
As is so often the case when taking a closer look at specific aspects of Japanese culture, the Issho mochi custom also proves to be suprisingly fascinating with multiple layers of symbolic meaning as well as anthropological significance.
First lets look at the name of the ceremony- Issho mochi. While written with the characters 一升、this means two kilos of rice, but written with different characters- 一生, the same sounds mean- ONES WHOLE LIFE. Thus, by this connection of similar sounding words ( goro awase), the ceremony takes on the significance as a prayer for good health and prosperity for the childs ENTIRE LIFE.
The discomfort brought on by the sudden yoking of the child to the rice cakes can also be said to signify an introduction to the future challenges which lay in store for the child as it grows older. Its like saying- this is what life is like, kiddo!
When the child falls down on his/her backside after having stood for a second or two, it can be said that the child`s impurities are washed away. This is obvious once again from a play on words- because in the Japanese ridding oneself of impurities is called YAKU OTOSHI (厄落とし) and OTOSHI also means to drop or fall. Thus when falling down with the purifying rice cakes, one is spiritually cleansed.
The heavy weight making it difficult for the child to stand has another signicance as well. It is an expression of the parents desire that the child not grow up to soon.
Besides the similar feelings shared by many parents around the world regarding fears that their children will grow up TOO FAST, in traditional Japanese thought this had a unique twist.
It was commonly in Japan for children who could walk before their first birthday to be called demon children ( ONI KO, 鬼子). Such kids were feared and avoided. Thus, if a child started to walk before his/her first birthday, parents would not them down! On the other hand, it was believed that children should start walking right after their first birthday. The ISSHO MOCHI ceremony would be the last time that children would be discouraged from walking on their own! ( for much more on this there is a book by Kondo Naoya (近藤直也) called ONIKO TO TANJO MOCHI (鬼子と誕生餅)- Demon-kids and first birthday rice cakes, published by the Iwata Shoin Press.)
The Issho Mochi ceremony provides families with many photo ops and many fond memories- this photo was provided by Asako Seo of Tsukuba
No matter what the origins and symbolisms of this ceremony, the most important thing is that it is lots of fun for everyone, and a great chance to take pictures, celebrate the one year olds growth, and pray for his/ her future health and happiness.
Cooking up the mochi rice cakes later can be fun ( and tasty), as well.
I have also written about the RITUAL FEEDING CEREMONY called OKUIZOME (お食い初め), which is held one hundred days after a child`s birth:
And here is a song for those who understand ( or those who would like to understand) the joy of having kids ( written by Hase G and myself)- and recorded by the Tengooz:
http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/116593
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Celebrating HINA MATSURI ( The Doll Festival)- some Tsukubans will be taking their time in putting away their HINA DOLLS!
It is March 3rd and across Japan families with daughters are celebrating the Hina Matsuri (雛祭り) Doll Festival with chirashizushi (vinegared sushi-rice topped with shrimp, salmon roe and colorful strips of egg, carrot and seaweed) clam soup (hamaguri no ushio, はまぐりの潮汁）, brightly dyed traditional rice-based sweets called hishimochi (ひし餅) and a milky colored sweet rice wine called shirozake ( 白酒). Though these 3 dishes and the sake have become the standardized Girls Day FARE throughout the country, there is surprising variation to be found among the Japanese in terms of how they display and subsequently put away the star attractions of the season — the Hina Dolls themselves.
Department stores and other shops start displaying and promoting the fantastically ornate and very expensive Hina Doll sets right after the New Year Holiday. This type of set became popular in the Edo Period (1600-1867) and has been customarily presented upon the birth of a first daughter by the maternal grandparents. A full set requires a seven-tiered staircase-like deck on which to display the prince and princess, ministers, attendants, musicians and the procession of dowry goods. Of course such a set can cost an arm and a leg and even more importantly takes up a lot of precious space. Thus it has been quite common for families to have and display just the prince and princess dolls.
The Hina Dolls are taken out and displayed in February, though there seems to be no consensus on exactly when it is best to do so. Some people do it right after Setsubun in the first week of the month, or on any other auspicious date after that. It depends on the family.
In this way, Japanese families can enjoy these sublimely beautiful seasonal decorations for a few weeks or days before March third, the day of the festival itself, on which it is commonly believed that the dolls must be put away. According to tradition, if the dolls are not packed in their boxes on the 3rd, the daughters of the house will have trouble getting married.
I have found, however, that many of the old Ibaraki families do not put their dolls away until May! They explain this by saying that they like to have the dolls out right up until it’s time for the Boys Day decorations. They usually claim that it is so troublesome to set up the Hina Dolls that they would like to display them for as long as possible.
Alcohol free Shirozake ( in Kitty-Chan bottle) and Hina Dolls made from silkworm cocoons It goes without saying that these families live in large homes in which the sets don’t get in the way of anybody. As so many Japanese now live in small apartments, I have found an endless variety of smaller rabbit-hutch friendly Hina Dolls or figures. These can be made of origami or be simple cut-outs. I have even seen families display postcards with pictures of dolls.
In fact, these smaller, paper dolls are more authentic than the ornate artworks created by the Edo Period craftsmen. This is because the Hina matsuri has its roots in Heian Period ( 794-1185) Japan when people would purify themselves by projecting all their sins into paper dolls which were then cast off into the sea or a river. In Wakayama Prefecture I have seen the dolls being set afloat on rivers as the tradition still lives on there.
I guess it can be said that the custom of packing away the dolls is what has replace the casting off. It became impracticle to discard the dolls each time when they evlved into elaborate and extremely EXPENSIVE sets. Many families still believe that the bad energies absorbed by the dolls would bring bad luck if not PUT AWAY..
A pair of Hina Dolls TURNED AROUND after March 3rd, by a family who had not yet had the time to put them away (March 2009)
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