Shichi-Go-San

Overview

Shichi-Go-San is a traditional Japanese annual event celebrating the growth of children and praying for their continued healthy development by visiting Shinto shrines. Generally, the ceremony is observed for boys and girls aged three, boys aged five, and girls aged seven, with the primary celebration date centered around November 15 each year. This event is understood to be a consolidation of several ancient passage rites that mark key stages of a child's growth, and it has been cherished by many families in modern Japan as well.

In the Edo period, when infant mortality was high and medical care was not advanced, children were often considered to be "in the realm of the gods" until the age of seven. Therefore, Shichi-Go-San was not merely a celebration; it also carried significant social meaning as an occasion to report a child's growth to the local community and deities, seeking their formal acknowledgment. In contemporary practice, families typically dress their children in formal attire, visit a photo studio for commemorative pictures, and receive a purification prayer (kitō) at a shrine.

History and Origin

The origins of Shichi-Go-San can be traced back to childhood growth rituals practiced among aristocratic and samurai families from the Heian period through the medieval era. Specifically, three ceremonies are considered its prototypes: "Kamioki" (hair-growing ceremony at age three), "Hakamagi" (hakama-wearing ceremony at age five), and "Obitoki" (obi-tying ceremony at age seven). Although these ceremonies were originally performed for both boys and girls, a gender-based distinction gradually became established from the Edo period onward, with boys marking their age five and girls ages three and seven.

The custom of combining these three ceremonies into a single event called Shichi-Go-San and celebrating it on November 15 became widespread from the mid-Edo period onwards. According to one widely cited account, the 5th Tokugawa shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, held a grand celebration on November 15, 1681 (Tenna 1), to pray for the health of his eldest son, Tokugawa Tokumatsu. This event reportedly spread from samurai households to the common townspeople of Edo, eventually becoming a fixed annual custom.

Several theories exist regarding the selection of November 15 as the specific date. According to one theory, in the old lunar calendar, November was a month to give thanks to the gods for the autumn harvest, and the 15th, being the full moon, was considered an auspicious day. Another theory, based on Onmyōdō (the way of yin and yang), suggests that November was regarded as a month of "Ichiyōraifuku" (the return of spring, signifying good fortune after hardship), and the 15th was a "Kishukunit" (a day when demons do not walk), making it an auspicious day for celebrations other than weddings.

During the Edo period, merchants, particularly kimono fabric sellers, bundled these three ceremonies together, named them "Shichi-Go-San" as a commercial strategy, and actively promoted this package. This commercial push led to the custom's rapid spread among both the warrior class and common citizens. Following the Meiji period, the practice of visiting Shinto shrines on November 15 became established nationwide as a representative event for celebrating children's growth, continuing to be widely observed to this day.

Highlights

Kamioki ceremony (Age 3) The "Kamioki" ceremony for three-year-old children marks the beginning of letting a child's hair grow, having previously been kept shaved. In the Edo period, it was common to shave children's heads for hygienic reasons; at age three, parents finally allowed the hair to grow. Performed for both boys and girls, the sight of formally dressed children reporting their growth to the shrine deity is a touching moment for the surrounding adults.

Hakamagi ceremony (Age 5 for Boys) "Hakamagi," the ceremony in which a five-year-old boy wears a hakama (traditional divided skirt) for the first time, is a crucial milestone signifying his first step toward adulthood. This ritual originates from the adult coming-of-age ceremonies of Heian-period court nobles and was particularly valued in samurai society. The image of a young boy, dressed in colorful haori and hakama, walking with a straight back to visit the shrine, is both celebratory and filled with hope.

Obitoki ceremony (Age 7 for Girls) "Obitoki," where a seven-year-old girl graduates from wearing children's attire with attached strings to tying a broad adult obi (sash), is a ceremony symbolizing her transition from girlhood toward womanhood. By undergoing this ritual, a girl was socially recognized as being of an age to dress in a more mature style. The sight of a young girl in a vibrant furisode (long-sleeved kimono) walking hand-in-hand with her parents along the shrine approach path, her expression a mix of slight nervousness and pride, is a classic seasonal scene of Shichi-Go-San.

Chitose Ame (Thousand-Year Candy) An indispensable element of Shichi-Go-San is "Chitose Ame," long, thin rod-shaped candies. According to tradition, these candies were first created by a candy artisan in Asakusa, Edo, and their long, slender shape embodies wishes for a "long and healthy life." Placed in a decorated bag featuring auspicious motifs like cranes, turtles, pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms, the candies are handed to children after the shrine visit, enhancing the joy of the celebration.

Shrine Visit and Prayer The central activity of Shichi-Go-San is to visit one's local ujigami (tutelary deity) or a chosen shrine to receive a "Shichi-Go-San prayer." During this prayer, the shrine priest reports the child's growth to the deity and offers prayers for continued divine protection. The time spent together as a family in the solemn atmosphere of the main hall, wishing for the child's future, becomes a lifelong memory.

New Formal Attire and Commemorative Photography In contemporary Shichi-Go-San, it is common practice to have a child's formal attire photographed either at a dedicated studio or at the shrine itself. The splendid kimono of a girl or the crisp haori-hakama of a boy are recorded as a permanent keepsake of this milestone. The child's shy yet proud expression before the camera captures a precious moment that deepens family bonds.

Event Information and Access

• Date (Typical Year): Shichi-Go-San is traditionally observed on November 15. However, if this falls on a weekday, many families celebrate on the preceding or following weekends. Shrines generally accept prayer requests from mid-October through early December. For the latest specific dates, it is necessary to check the official website of each shrine.
• Target Ages: The traditional age calculation uses the kazoedoshi (counted age) system: 3, 5, and 7. In recent years, many families use the man nenrei (full age) system. In kazoedoshi, an age 3 child is a full age of 2 years (around their birthday), age 5 is full age 4, and age 7 is full age 6.
• Reception Hours: Prayer reception hours vary by shrine but are generally from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. At popular shrines, advance reservation may be required.
• Reservations: Reservations by phone or online are recommended. As weekends around November 15 are particularly crowded, early booking is advisable.
• What to Bring: Standard items include an envelope (noshibukuro) for the prayer offering (hatsuhōryō), a change of shoes for the child, and a camera. Formal attire for the child (kimono or suit) and semi-formal wear for parents is typical.
• Access: Shichi-Go-San is observed at Shinto shrines nationwide. For particularly famous shrines such as Kanda Myojin, Asakusa Shrine, and Meiji Jingu, the use of public transportation is recommended. The approach paths can be extremely crowded on the day, so ample time is necessary.

Nearby Information

During the Shichi-Go-San season, shopping streets and department stores near shrines often hold special sales of children's formal wear and Chitose Ame. For example, around Kanda Myojin in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, long-established Japanese confectionery shops in the shrine's traditional temple town sell Chitose Ame, drawing large crowds of visitors. Photography studios offer special commemorative photo plans for Shichi-Go-San, often bundled with kimono rental services.

In Okinawa Prefecture, a unique coming-of-age tradition called "Jusan Uwi" (Thirteen Celebration) is observed in some areas, distinct from mainland Shichi-Go-San. This event, where children who reach the counted age of 13 give thanks for their growth in wisdom and learning and pray for future happiness, is often held around the 13th day of the third month of the old lunar calendar. Such variations demonstrate how traditions for celebrating children's growth have developed unique local forms across Japan.

In regions like Hokkaido, Shichi-Go-San is a relatively newer tradition, believed to have been brought by settlers during and after the Meiji period. Consequently, the scale of shrines and the specific forms of prayer vary significantly by region, rooted in each local community, from large urban shrines to smaller, rural ones.

Related Information

1. Omiyamairi: A shrine visit performed approximately one month after a child's birth to give thanks for their safe arrival and pray for their healthy growth. Like Shichi-Go-San, it is a vital rite of passage for children.
2. Hatsu Miyamairi: Synonymous with Omiyamairi; a first visit to a shrine after birth. The name can vary by region.
3. Jusan Uwi (Thirteenth Celebration): A coming-of-age tradition in Okinawa Prefecture celebrating children reaching the counted age of 13, practiced as a separate tradition from Shichi-Go-San to this day.
4. Chitose Ame (Thousand-Year Candy): The long, thin candy distributed during Shichi-Go-San, invented in the Edo period, embodying wishes for longevity.
5. Kamioki: One of the three origin ceremonies of Shichi-Go-San; the act of beginning to grow a child's hair at age three.
6. Hakamagi: One of the three origin ceremonies; wearing a hakama for the first time at age five.
7. Obitoki: One of the three origin ceremonies; beginning to tie an adult obi at age seven.
8. Kanda Myojin: A major Shinto shrine in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, famed for its Shichi-Go-San crowds since the Edo period.
9. Tokugawa Tsunayoshi: The 5th Tokugawa shogun, whose celebration of his son Tokumatsu's growth is a key legend in the origin of the modern Shichi-Go-San custom.

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