Shichi-Go-San, 七五三, is a cultural tradition that has endured for many years, dating back to antiquity.
Child mortality was high back then, so special ceremonies were created and practiced at the Imperial Court to ensure the continuing health and long life of children at the ages of 3, 5, and 7.
Shichi-Go-San is a Japanese rite of passage and festival celebrated on November 15 to mark the growth and well-being of children aged three and seven for girls, and three and five for boys. Families visit shrines to pray for their children's health and happiness, dress them in traditional attire for photos, and give them special treats like chitose-ame (long-life candy). The celebration dates back to the Heian period, and its name directly translates to "seven-five-three".
The age 3 ceremony is called Kamioki no Gi.
Children’s heads were shaved until they reached the third year. This practice is meant to keep them clean and safe from disease. To celebrate the end of shaving their heads, a special ceremony was conducted for the boys and girls.
You see a little girl in the center of the photo, celebrating Kamioki no Gi. The five-year-old standing on the left side is dressed in traditional Japanese trousers, Hakama. It is a celebration of signaling their start into adulthood. The tall girl on the right side is wearing a kimono robe with a wide obi belt, symbolizing the entry to adulthood.
When you travel to Japan in November, you spot these dressed-up kids at shrines across Japan. They take pride in being part of a long-standing Japanese tradition. Please give them cheers!
I was born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
This is a region once governed by the Maeda clan—the second-most powerful feudal lords after the Tokugawa during the Edo period (1600–1868). Under the prosperous Maeda domain, Kanazawa, flourished as a center of refined art and culture, earning its nickname ‘Little Kyoto.’
Among the city’s many elegant regional okashi (Japanese sweets), the 400-year-old Chitose from Morihachi Confectionery Company remains especially memorable.
Chitose translates to a thousand years.
This sweet consists of silky adzuki bean paste, lightly sweetened with rice syrup, wrapped in an exquisitely tender mochi sheet and dusted with fine powdered sugar. The sweets are traditionally paired in white and soft reddish-pink, colors that make them a favorite for celebratory occasions throughout the year.
Though Chitose has no direct connection to plum blossoms, its delicate appearance always reminded me of a white-and-red-pink ume flower. I dream of savoring Chitose while admiring the gentle beauty of blooming ume.
I have always loved my mother’s family crest, the kamon (家紋).
Hers is the Umebachi (梅鉢) crest, a design of five larger circles arranged in a pentagon around a smaller central circle, resembling a plum blossom viewed from above. Japan has more than 20,000 family crests and over 100 variations of plum-blossom design alone.
The history of the family crest dates back to the 8th through 12th centuries, when courtiers used designs drawn from nature on their ox carts and other belongings to distinguish themselves from others and show their power.
Next, in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), a period of Japan’s civil war, warriors adorned their kabuto helmets with highly stylized versions of their family crests to distinguish themselves from others and express their mighty power. When the Edo period (1600-1868) began, commoners were allowed to use family crests; at the time, surnames were not yet permitted. In 1875, all citizens were allowed to carry a surname, and the family crest became a symbol of all families.
Battle of SekigaharaCredit: Gifu History Museum
The Battle of Sekigahara, fought on October 21, 1600, marked a decisive turning point in Japanese history. The clash split the nation into Eastern and Western factions, and its outcome opened the path for Tokugawa Ieyasu to unify the country, leading to nearly three centuries of tightly managed peace. managed peace. In this scene, you find hundreds of crests representing the participating armies, each one symbolizing a clan that took part in the battle.
Daki-kashiwa: My father’s family crest
Many samurai families connected to the Maeda clan used the Umebachi crest. My mother often reminded me—many times over—that her great-grandfather had served the Maeda clan. I own several formal kimonos, each bearing a family crest prominently displayed at the center of the back. The crest on my kimonos, however, is not my mother’s but my father’s: Daki-kashiwa (抱き柏).
The oak leaf, kashiwa, has long been regarded as sacred. In ancient times, oak leaves were used as vessels for offerings to the gods. Because old oak leaves do not fall until new ones emerge, the kashiwa came to symbolize the continuity of the family line and, by extension, prosperity for future generations. For this reason, the oak-leaf motif has been favored by courtiers and warriors since antiquity.
Unfortunately, I foresee my Shimbo family line, including other Shimbo relatives, coming to an end when my sister eventually passes. There are no sons to carry on the name and inherit it. I am blessed to continue to use Daki-kashiwa as my business logo on my cards and website until the end.
Japanese craftsmanship permeates daily life through food production, culinary arts, food presentation, textiles, traditional gardens, architecture, and artworks.
Each year, Meiji Jingu 明治神宮, Tokyo's most popular shrine, draws 3 million visitors. We deliver the message, including a New Year’s resolution, to the gods and ancestors and ask for their protection for the year.
