Shichi-Go-San: How and When

This is one of the traditional events in Japan. When a boy or girl is three years old, when a boy is five, or when a girl is seven, parents take them to a sacred place, usually a Shinto shrine, to celebrate their growth on November 15th.

These days, the visiting days may be another auspicious day, or a Saturday or Sunday in October and November. During this time, you will see boys and girls in formal dress, often kimono, accompanied by their families at shrines.

Origin

In ancient times, when medical science was not developed, children rarely survived until they were seven years old. In the imperial court, some rituals began to be held to pray for the healthy growth of children.

They held “Kamioki” for three-year-old children, “Hakamagi” for five-year-old ones, and “Obitoki” for seven-year-old ones.

Kamioki is the ritual of placing “Watashiraga,” a white wig made of threads, on the head of children at the age of three, when they began to grow hair. Before that age, they had their heads shaved. The white wig represents the silver hair of the elderly, so it is a symbol for praying for longevity.

Hakamagi is the ritual to dress children in hakama, traditional Japanese trousers, for the first time. In the ritual, they stood on the go board, facing the direction of luck. Later in the Middle Ages, this ritual came to be done for boys.

Obitoki is the ritual to dress children in an authentic obi sash. Before the age of seven, children wore a kimono tied with ropes. It was the first step toward adulthood. Later in the Middle Ages, this ritual came to be done for girls.

In the Meiji period in the 19th century, these three rituals were unified as the Shichi-Go-San ceremony.

Chitose-ame

For the Shichi-Go-San ceremony, Chitose-ame is sold at shops along the approach to the shrine. In a special paper bag with a colorful picture, white and pink candies are packed inside. This ‘ame’ is a long stick of candy made by kneading sweet syrup. ‘Chitose’ means ‘one thousand years,’ and this candy stretches when pulled. This represents longevity, so the candy is auspicious.

Kazoedoshi

The ages of seven, five, and three are often based on the old way of counting ages, called ‘Kazoedoshi.’ In this counting system, when one is born, the age is counted as one. After this, when one faces the first day of January, one year is added to the age. Kazoedoshi is usually used for Shinto rituals related to ages, like the Shichi-Go-San ceremony and Yakudoshi, the ages of bad luck.