Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Welcome to Fascinating Facts and Tantalizing Trivia

A Hartson Dowd Column

Nov 14, 2006

SHICHI-GO-SAN  {the Seven-Five-Three Festival} is an ancient Japanese celebration that is often one of the first events that a Japanese child will remember.  Seven-year-old girls, five-year-old boys, and all three-year-olds are taken to the Shinto shrine where their birth has been recorded and their parents give thanks to the deities for having taken care of them and to ask for further blessings.

Shichi-Go-San is said to have originated in the Heian Period amongst court nobles who would celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood. The ages three, five and seven are consistent with Japanese numerology, which dictates that odd numbers are lucky. The practice was set to the fifteenth of the month during the Kamakura Period.

Over time, this tradition passed to the samurai class who added a number of rituals. Children—who up until the age of three were required by custom to have shaven heads—were allowed to grow out their hair. Boys of age five could wear hakama for the first time, while girls of age seven replaced the simple cords they used to tie their kimono with the traditional obi.  By the Meiji Period, the practice was adopted amongst commoners as well, and included the modern ritual of visiting a shrine to drive out evil spirits and wish for long healthy life.

Current Practice

The tradition has changed little since the Meiji Period. While the ritual regarding hair has been discarded, boys who are aged five and girls who are aged three and seven are still dressed in kimono—many for the first time—for visits to shrines. Three-year-old girls usually wear hifu (a type of padded vest) with their kimono. Western-style formal wear is also worn by some children.

Shichi-Go-San is also known for Chitoseame, ("thousand year candy"), a traditional treat eaten to ensure longevity and health. A more modern practice is photography, and this day is well known as a day to take pictures of children.

At three, a little girl wears her hair dress for the first time, similar to her mother’s.  The five-year-old boy will wear his first kimono, and at seven the girls wear their first obi, or wide kimono belt.

After the priest has prayed for their healthy growth he gives two little boxes to each child.  One contains cakes in the form of Shinto emblems (mirror, sword and jewel); the other is sacred rice to be mixed with the evening meal. 

Many parents plan parties for their children on this day, the Sunday nearest to November 15^th.  Odd numbers are considered lucky numbers.  Long candies in bags that are decorated with turtles and cranes are given to the children. The candy, the crane, and the turtle, all symbolize longevity.

The most popular shrines in Tokyo for this occasion are Meiji Shrine, Hie Shrine and Kanda Myojin Shrine. Many families usually visit shrines on Saturdays or Sundays before and around November 15.

Access: (1) Meiji Shrine: Harajuku Station, JR Yamanote Line or Meiji-Jingumae Station, Sub way Chiyoda Line.
(2) Hie Shrine: Tameike-Sanno Station, Subway Ginza, Namboku lines; Akasakamitsuke Station, Ginza, Marunouchi lines; or Kokkai-Gijidoma e Station, Chiyoda, Marunouchi lines.
(3) Kanda Myojin Shrine: Ochanomizu Station, JR Chuo, Sobu or Subway Marunouchi lines.

Hartson S. Dowd                                                                                                                                                                   hsdowd@telus.net