In the days before modern medicine and improved quality of living, childhood mortality was quite high in Japan.  This fact led to the development of a Japanese custom called Shichi-Go-San or the "Seven, Five and Three" ceremony.  This unique custom marks the achievement of the third and fifth year for boys and the third and seventh year for girls.  These milestone years are celebrated on November 15th with the whole family dressing up in their best outfits and taking the children to the local Shinto (native Japanese religion) shrine in order to present the child to the shrine deity.  This is done in order to thank the deity for their help in keeping the child safe to date and to ask for further such help in the future.  The family is permitted to enter the shrine where a service is conducted by the shrine priest.

This month marks Emily's third birthday and in keeping with Japanese custom we all dressed up in our best outfits and took her to be seen by the shrine god.  The day began with a visit to the beauty parlor where Emily had her hair done up and decorated with pretty trinkets.  After that it was off to her grandparent's house for her kimono fitting.  Unfortunately grandpa was in Tokyo this weekend and couldn't join us and grandma had to attend an event marking the one year anniversary of the death of a family friend (another in the long list of Japanese ceremonies) and could only join us for the kimono fitting.

After we were dressed and ready to go Emily, mommy and daddy and aunt Yoko walked and took a train to Gogoku Jinjya which is the name of one of the largest and most beautiful Shinto shrines in Shizuoka.  During the train ride and walk to the shrine Emily received many admiring compliments on her pretty kimono.  Mommy and aunty Yoko looked lovely and sophisticated in the new outfits which they bought to wear on this special day.

At the shrine we enjoyed a nice stroll along the very long road leading from the first large wooden gate or torii at the entrance to the shrine to the actual shrine complex.  The day and weather were lovely and we could hear the deep boom of drumming from the large traditional Japanese drums or taiko which were being beaten by other children who had also come for their Shichi-Go-San ceremonies.  Emily would soon have her turn at the drum!

After posing for several photos before the shrine we entered with several other families and received the blessing of the shrine deity.  Emily then received a gift from the shrine (crayons and other toys) and then took her turn at the huge taiko drum.  While other (older) children understand that one is supposed to beat the taiko slowly at first, increasing the tempo gradually to a finale of deep rapid beats (boom........boom....boom..boom.boom-boom-boom).  Emily instead just whacked the thing a couple of times and called it a day!  Her quick and unceremonial drumming brought smiles from all the adults as well as the priest in attendance.  (Technically, the number of drum beats should equal the age of the child.)

After we were done at the shrine we went downtown for lunch at Kurt's favorite soba restaurant.  Emily was a big hit everywhere we went and though she acted shy at times she seemed to love all the attention.  After lunch we visited the homes of some friends and relatives before returning home exhausted yet happy from a wonderful day celebrating and giving thanks for Emily's first three years. (More photos below!)

 

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