Nov. 12 - One of my favorite Japanese festivals is Shichi-Go-San. When I was an exchange student in Yokohama years ago, my Japanese host family took me to the Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura in November. There we saw many young parents with their children dressed in fine kimonos. The families came, my Japanese host mother explained, to receive a blessing and to pray for health and happiness for their children. The little boys and girls looked so cute in their kimonos and hairpieces.

My host mother explained to me that according to Japanese numerology, odd numbers are lucky. Also, in the past many small children did not live to the age of three, so this festival evolved to celebrate the health of girls age 3 and 7, as well as that of 5-year-old boys.

My host mother explained that the numbers three, five, and seven add up to 15. Therefore, she said, this festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 11th month, for children of ages 7, 5 and 3. These are all odd numbers, she patiently explained, fearing my math skills could not keep up with her. (My host mother was extremely fast on the abacus, but soon after I arrived she learned that her American son needed more time to complete simple calculations in his head.)

As I was contemplating this new information, someone gave me a piece of "chitose ame." I did not care for the taste, but my host mother explained that the long narrow shape of this traditional "thousand year" red candy symbolized a long life.

Ann and I plan to visit a shrine this month to celebrate Shichi-Go-San. Perhaps some of the children I saw at my first Shichi-Go-San festival are now young parents bringing children of their own. This generation of healthy children visiting the shrine will in turn grow up and take the baton from their parents to become the leaders of Japan. Ann and I will say a prayer for their health, happiness, and success at the shrine this month.

Until next time,

Jim