We wish you to start the year 2025 on the right foot.
This time we are going to talk about a Japanese tradition that involves a special dish to attract good health.
The celebration known in Japan as “Kagami Biraki” (Japanese 鏡開き) is an event where people eat a “mochi” that is placed beforehand on an altar to the Japanese gods and pray to them for a healthy life free of evils.
This “mochi” made of rice is called “Kagami mochi” (Japanese 鏡餅) translated to mirror-shaped rice cake; like the one you can see in the following picture.
It is important to mention that if you want to share with someone else, you can only use your hands or a wooden mallet; because if you use a knife to cut it, this would mean cutting off your relationship with the gods and attracting bad luck “Sepukku” (Japanese 切腹) which means disembowelment.
¿AND WHEN IS THE KAGAMI BIRAKI CELEBRATED?
It depends on the area where you are in Japan, as it varies between regions; but for the most part, it is celebrated on January 11.
Originally it was celebrated on January 20, but in the 4-year KEIAN era, Lord Iemitsu Tokugawa who was then the Third Shogun (a government position similar to a president in today's era) passed away in 1651 on the same day. So the official date of the celebration was changed to January 11. Celebrating after the “Matsunouchi” (Japanese 松の内) which are the decorations that are placed to welcome the new year.
CAN KAGAMI MOCHI BE PREPARED IN A DIFFERENT WAY?
Yes, there are several different ways in which it can be cooked; for example, the presentation of “Oshiruko” or “Ozoni” which are practical recipes to prepare, as well as others that are more complex to prepare such as “Age mochi” or “Okaki” which is cooked fried.
We recommend you to try this seasonal dish in any of its presentations, if you have the opportunity to do so.
We thank you for your preference and hope to continue sharing part of the culture and tradition of Japan in this year 2025.
Comentários