※This article was published at December 2014.※
When a child celebrate its first birthday in Japan, it is common to commemorate the occasion by having them carry an issho mochi (a rice cake that weighs approximately 2kg (issho)) on their back.
The kanji character for issho (一升) in issho mochi has the same pronunciation as the kanji character for issho (一生) that means a lifetime, and therefore this tradition symbolizes the wish that the child will not have any difficulties with food throughout their lifetime.
While the mochi only weighs about 2kg, this is a considerable weight for a child that is one year old.
While some children are able to stand up, there are also children that fall over and cry.
In some areas, people are pleased if the child is able to carry the mochi and walk, but there are also some areas that make the child fall over on purpose based on the fear that they will become separated from the family if they walk too early.
There is the traditional style of using a furoshiki (traditional large wrapping cloth for carrying things) tied on diagonally as seen in the photos below, but many families also take the easier route of using a children’s backpack.
Another event used to celebrate first birthdays is erabitori (pick and choose an item).
This is a game that is used to predict the future profession or talent of a child in which several items are placed in front of the child and the item that they choose indicates their future.
While the items differ slightly depending on the region, in general three items are used: an abacus, brush, and money.
The abacus indicates a future of business, the brush indicates a future of arts and writing, and money indicates a future of being rich.
As shown in the photo, it is OK to add original items such as a toy stethoscope, or to give the game a modern twist by using a calculator in place of an abacus or pen in place of a brush.
It’s fun thinking about the future of the child while watching what item their hand reaches for.
Many countries in Asia enjoy having large birthday parties, and incorporating an event like this could be a good idea.
It’s really a lot of fun!
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