Mio in her birthday hakama

For Mio’s first birthday party, we wanted to incorporate a Japanese traditional element into the celebration, and decided to have her carry issho mochi, followed by erabitori. Here’s a little background information on these two customs…

 

ISSHO MOCHI (一升餅)

A common Japanese first birthday custom is to have the toddler carry piggyback a large mochi (rice cake) weighing 1 sho. The word for the volume unit issho (一升), roughly equivalent to 1.8 liters, is a homophone for issho (一生) meaning “a whole lifetime,” and the issho mochi (一升餅) symbolizes the parents’ hope that the child will never go hungry throughout her lifetime.

Issho Mochi

The discomfort brought on by the sudden yoking of the child to the rice cakes can also be said to signify an introduction to the future challenges which lay in store for the child as she grows older. It’s like saying, “this is what life is like, kiddo!”

When the child falls down on her backside after having stood for a second or two, it is said that the child’s impurities are washed away. The heavy weight making it difficult for the child to stand has another significance as well — it is an expression of the parents’ desire that their child not grow up too fast.

 

ERABITORI (選び取り)

Another part of a Japanese first birthday tradition is an event known as erabitori (選び取り), the literal translation being “to pick and keep an item.” The following objects were set before Mio. It is said that the first object that the baby selects will show her calling, or a tendency towards a specific career field.

WRITING BRUSH: Artist / Writer
CALCULATOR: Merchant / Good with calculation
MONEY: Blessed with an abundance of wealth, property, and other material goods
SCISSORS: Skillful hands / Fashion
MEASURING RULER: Methodical / Own a big house
CHOPSTICKS: Chef / Never go hungry
DICTIONARY: Scholar / Academic Excellence
BALL: Athlete / Outstanding motor reflexes

Issho Mochi and Erabitori display

 

How did Mio fare with these birthday activities? You can see a play-by-play with the following photos further down, or just watch the video:

 

 

Mio in her Japanese hakama.
Mio in her Japanese hakama.

 

"Are you ready?"
"Are you ready?"

 

Setting up the erabitori items.
Setting up the erabitori items.

 

Explaining what each item means.
Explaining what each item means.

 

"Ready, Mio?"
Mio carrying the issho mochi on her back.

 

Mio refused to move forward
At first, she plunked down and refused to move forward.

 

Dan looks stressed... lol.
Dan looks stressed... lol.

 

Will she make it?!
Will she make it?!

 

Walking with it
Mio starts walking with the issho mochi.

 

Go Mio, Go!
Go Mio, Go!

 

So proud of you, Mio!
Making her way across the room.

 

Good job!
Reaching Mama

 

Stumbling as she reaches her goal.
Stumbling as she reaches her goal.

 

Untying the mochi from Mio's back.
Untying the mochi from Mio's back.

 

What will she pick?
What will she pick?

 

She picked the scissors!
She picked the scissors!

 

The scissors mean she will be skilled with her hands, or have a career in fashion.
The scissors mean she will be skilled with her hands, or have a career in fashion.

 

Not letting go of the scissors.
Not letting go of the scissors.

 

She's got a death grip on it.
She's got a death grip on it.

 

Good job, Mio!
Good job, Mio!

 

"What just happened?"
Scissors in her mouth...

 

She will be crafty, just like her parents!
We're so proud of you, Mio!

 

Mio successfully carried the issho mochi, and we got a peek at Mio’s destiny when she picked the scissors during erabitori. We’re excited about the possibility that she will be crafty, like both of her parents!

(Special thanks to Megumi for the video footage and some of the photos taken on her phone that we used in this post!)

We have yet to post about the finale activity of Mio’s birthday party, so keep an eye out for Part III! 🙂