Seven-Five-Three Festival in Japan

Shrine Visits in Finest Traditional Clothing

Shrine visits are what makes up the Seven-Five-Three Festival in the modern celebration. Prayers are offered to wish for the children’s happiness, healthy growth, and future successes. During these visits, the children involve would usually dress up extravagantly. They would wear the finest traditional clothes for the celebration. Since these traditional clothes are a bit expensive, many Japanese who have five-year old boys and three and seven-year old girls, would rent out these clothing from rental shops, rather than buying one. Some of these shops would even offer additional services like hair and make-up for the little girls. The young girls face would be adorned with make-up and their hair are expected to be beautifully done during the event. Crowds of families would be seen everywhere in the country during the event.

Basically, the festival is a family-focused kind of event, so it looks more of like a family day in Japan. So, once the shrine visits are over, other families would organize special banquets for their friends, relatives, and families. However, most of them would often arrange for a photoshoot of their kids. Several family pictures are also taken in various photo studios across the country. The festival would not be completed without photography. Since it’s a special occasion for the children, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, other relatives, and friends, would join the celebration. As a memento of the event, taking pictures and videos are typical on this day.

Kamioki Ceremony

The Japanese are well-known for taking their holidays and festivals seriously, and Seven-Five-Three Festival is not an exception. In fact, this festival is one of the most popular festivals occurring during the autumn season in Japan. As part of the Japanese traditions, ceremonies are held during this festival. ‘Kamioki’ is the first of these ceremonies. Kamioki literally means ‘leaving the hair. In the ancient times, one of the customary practices in Japan, is shaving the heads of their babies 7 days after its birth. The little kids (both boys and girls) are not allowed to grow their hair until they reach the age of three. Once they reach this specific age, they would be a part of the kamioki ceremony. This event marks the beginning for these little kids to have their hair finally grow out. However, at present, since traditions evolved, this specific practice of shaving the infants’ heads have long been discarded. Currently, during the festival, young children of age three (girls and sometimes boys are included, depending on the area) are seen wearing the traditional Japanese kimono. These kimonos are worn without obi, but with shoulder tucks, and a padded vest known as ‘hifu’ in the Japanese language.

Hakama-gi-no-gi

The second ceremony held is called ‘Hakama-gi-no-gi’. This ceremony is intended for five-year old boys alone. This is the event wherein these boys are finally allowed, for the very first time, to wear the traditional formal clothing for the male Japanese. These traditional clothing worn is called ‘Hakama’ (a traditional piece of samurai clothing which looks like a loose pleated trousers) and ‘Haori’ (a Japanese formal coat worn over a kimono).

Obitoki-no-gi

‘Obitoki-no-gi’, is the third ceremony held during the festival. This event on the other hand, is intended for the seven-year old girls. This is the time when girls aged seven are given the right to wear the ‘obi’ (a belt/sash used to tie the kimono and is somehow more expensive than the kimono itself when purchased brand-new). The obis are only being worn by adult Japanese women, thus, this ceremony done marks the transition of the seven-year old girls from being little kids down to the path of womanhood.

Chitose Ame, the most popular gift on Seven-Five-Three Festival

With the celebration of the Seven-Five-Three Festival, a special treat is also given towards the children. Aside from small gifts from the children’s family, a specific treat is also given to the kids on this day. ‘Chitose Ame’ is what it’s called. Chitose Ame (a thin-looking, red and white candy) means a thousand-year candy. Since this symbolizes growth and longevity in Japanese culture, this is the most popular treat given to the children during the festival. These candies are to be given inside a bag which is also full of decorations. Such decorations are said to symbolize long life and good luck in the country as well. The designs/decorations likely seen in these bags include: tsuru (cranes), kame (turtles), matsu (pine), ume (plum), and take (bamboo).