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Kagami biraki is a conventional Japanese ceremony to interrupt the decorative mochi and eat it for good well being and fortune for the New 12 months.
To conclude the Japanese New 12 months celebrations, kagami biraki (鏡開き), actually that means ‘opening the mirror’ or breaking of the mochi, is often held on January eleventh.
What’s Kagami Biraki?
Kagami biraki is a ceremony that marks important occasions or transitions to new phases in life. It originated from an act carried out by the fourth Tokugawa shogun 300 years in the past when he broke a sake barrel on the eve of struggle upon reaching victory. This act gave rise to a brand new custom, signifying the start of one thing new.
The time period ‘kagami’ interprets to ‘mirror,’ and ‘biraki’ means ‘opening’ or ‘to interrupt.’ Why ‘mirror’? The title ‘kagami’ is derived from its resemblance to an old style spherical copper mirror, which additionally held spiritual significance based on Japanese mythology.
In modern-day Japan, kagami biraki is carried out at weddings, sporting occasions, housewarmings, the opening days of recent firms, and different celebratory events.
Kagami Biraki Celebration In the course of the New 12 months
The commonest kagami biraki celebration is held proper after the beginning of the New 12 months and includes breaking the kagami mochi (鏡餅), a pair of embellished rice muffins supplied to the deity of the New 12 months.
Initially, kagami biraki was celebrated on January twentieth. Nonetheless, with the demise of the third Shogun, Iemitsu, within the Tokugawa shogunate on January 20, 1651, it was modified to the eleventh, as odd numbers are thought-about auspicious in Japan.
There are slight regional variations within the date. Within the western a part of Japan, it’s celebrated on January fifteenth, whereas in Kyoto and the encircling space, the custom takes place on the 4th.
The ceremony includes eradicating the round-shaped mochi from the household altar and breaking them into smaller items earlier than cooking them in dessert or soup to take pleasure in. Consuming the mochi symbolizes a prayer for well being and success within the New 12 months.
Historical folks believed that meals supplied to God would possess particular powers, and by consuming it with the blessings from God, they wished for good well being.
Do and Don’ts of the Ceremony
To interrupt open the decorative mochi, one ought to by no means lower it with a knife. The motion reminds the Japanese folks of seppuku (切腹), ritual disembowelment from historic occasions, and it’s thought-about an indication of unhealthy luck. For that purpose, the customary method to break the mochi is with a picket hammer or with one’s fingers.
The phrases ‘kiru‘ (to chop) and ‘waru‘ (to interrupt) carry connotations of unhealthy fortune and mishap; subsequently, ‘hiraku’ (open) — the unique type of ‘Biraki’ — is used within the sense of the opening of recent alternatives.
Completely different Kinds of Kagami Mochi Ornament
Historically, mochi was made recent at house, together with kagami mochi, which consisted of two discs—one barely bigger than the opposite.
The mochi muffins are stacked on a embellished stand, adorned with an orange and a fan, and positioned on the kamidana (a Shinto altar) or household altar. To maximise luck, some households even place small kagami mochi in every room of the home.
Lately, most households purchase plastic kagami mochi from grocery shops. Contained in the kagami mochi mould, there are individually packaged small mochi items (we name this rectangular mochi kiri mochi) for comfort and higher preservation.
The place to Purchase Kagami Mochi Ornament
As I discussed earlier, kagami mochi decorations might be bought at Japanese grocery shops in December. Since that is very particular to Japanese celebrations, it’s unlikely that common Asian grocery shops carry it. Chances are you’ll need to examine Amazon to see if they provide it in December.
To cut back plastic utilization, I bought this hinoki kagami mochi ornament for this New 12 months.
One of the best half is you could retailer the ornament in a single field.
I like how easy and minimal this picket kagami mochi seems to be. The shop I bought it from at the moment bought out of the product. If I discover a new supply, I’ll share the hyperlink on this put up.
How Can We Use Kagami Mochi
After the ceremony, we are going to use the damaged mochi items to make Zenzai (Crimson Bean Soup with Mochi), Chikara Udon (udon noodle soup with mochi), or embody it in Ozoni (New 12 months Soup).
Crimson Bean Soup with Mochi (Zenzai / Oshiruko)
Kansai-style Ozoni (New 12 months Mochi Soup)
Kanto-style Ozoni (New 12 months Mochi Soup)
If you’re uninterested in consuming soups, strive making rice cracker snacks!
Different “Kagami Biraki” Celebrations
1. Kagami Biraki in Dojo and Different Sporting Occasions
The Kagami Biraki ceremony can also be a major occasion in lots of dojos (conventional martial artwork colleges resembling judo, karate, jujutsu, kendo, aikido, and so on.) to kick off the dojo’s new 12 months. The ceremony is normally held on the second Saturday or Sunday of January, so all college students will be capable of attend their first follow of the 12 months. It marks a convention of renewal, spirit, and devotion.
With the identical imaginative and prescient in thoughts, many different sports activities communities in Japan additionally undertake the ceremony to mark a brand new season for his or her groups and to welcome new members.
2. The Different Kagami Biraki: Sake Barrel Ceremony
One other well-liked kagami biraki ceremony includes breaking the lid of sake barrel utilizing a picket mallet, and the sake is served and partaken by everybody current on the occasion. The act of ‘breaking open the lid’ of the sake barrel is just like the act of breaking the mochi, and it represents a gap to concord and success.
Within the image above, the lid of the sake is opened utilizing a picket mallet known as kizuchi (木槌) and a picket ladle hishaku (柄杓), is used to fill the sq. masu (升) cups with sake from the barrel.
At sake breweries, the lid of the sake barrel is named ‘kagami.’ This tradition of opening the barrel can also be known as kagami wari (鏡割り) ‘mirror breaking’ or kagami nuki (鏡抜き) ‘mirror pulling,’ however kagami biraki is usually used for completely satisfied events.
One can find this model of kagami biraki extra widespread at weddings, enterprise openings, venture completion ceremonies, commencement events, or different occasions more likely to contain sake ingesting.
Extra on Japanese Tradition & Traditions
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Editor’s Word: This put up was initially printed on January 10, 2017. It’s been republished on January 4, 2024.
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