Hatsumode

There doesn't really seem to be an official end to the New Year's celebrations in Japan, and even after everyone goes back to work there are still holidays to observe. One that we never miss is nanakusa no sekku, a day to eat a special dish called nanakusagayu (rice porridge with the seven herbs of spring). The herbs were once gathered wild but are now bought together in sets like the one above. I've showed the herbs more nicely in previous years but I like this year's package as it comes with the name of the farm that produced it, a picture of the farmers themselves, and a barcode that, when scanned with a cellphone, will take you to the farm's webpage for more information. This kind of packaging has been showing up in recent years on all kinds of produce and I think it's pretty neat.

Nanakusagayu is a very light and healthy dish, and the addition of eggs makes it a meal. Eating in on January 7th is said to ensure good health during the year. It's probably just as healthy any other day of the year, so if you want to make it for yourself here's the recipe.

Hatsumode (the firt visit to a shrine of the year) is also important, and I have a tradition of going to Meiji Jingu Shrine in Harajuku to do my praying. It's uncomfortably crowded during the first week so I usually aim for mid-January, which is late by hatsumode standards but much nicer. This year my visit coincided with an ice sculpture contest held on the Shrine grounds, which was a treat.

It was actually way too warm for ice sculptures and they were melting rapidly, with several of them missing limbs, wings, swords and other appendages.

About half of the sculptures were of the female form, and virtually all of these featured conspicuously large bosoms. The mermaid above is not a great example, being an A-cup by ice sculpture standards. The ones below, each as big as their owners' head, are more typical.

The artists were definitely guys.

This is what not crowded looks like at Meiji Jingu. This is just the approach to the gate, and once across it was a 30 minute wait to pray and another 30 minutes lining up for omikuji (fortunes) and souvenirs.

There are other things to do to finish off New Year's, but I didn't do them. Kagamibiraki was skipped as I didn't have the required mochi (was too busy to buy it last year) and Setsubun, which was yesterday, was spent the day in bed with a cold. Those who are keeping track will notice that this is Cold Number Two of this year, which is highly annoying.

I think perhaps I didn't eat enough nanakusagayu.

Comments

[Peter]

I just found your blog around christmas time and quite like it, so I was a bit sad when it seemed like the posts had slowed down. Good to have you back and I hope you start feeling better soon!

I live in Tokyo too, but I'm too intimidated to brave Meiji Jingu around New Years, so I did my hatsumode at a small local temple. Your pic of the kayu looks rather delicious, which is extra impressive as it's probably one of the least photogenic foods i can think of...

[Lane Bryant Coupons Girl]

Those ice sculptures are amazing.

[Tamakikat]

Hisashiburi!

Good to see another of your posts. Always nice to hear what's happening in your neck of the woods.

Take care:)

TK

[E. Thai]

Just stumbled onto your blog. Great pictures!
My niece (from Calgary) spent a semester at a local high school in the Sapporo area one year, and she loved it! What are you doing in Japan, other eating your way around Toyko?

[Carlyn]

Amy;
lovely photos...as usual...thanks..oh, and thanks for the recipe..

[Gabi Greve]

Your photos do not show, unfortunately.

GABI

from Okayama

[Our Man in Abiko]

Hello, thanks for the link on your blog roll. Just wondering, in your virtual travels, do you (or your readers) know of any good women (or even better, bad women) blogging about Japanese politics... in English? There seems to be a dearth of good comment on the subject from the fairer sex, maybe the girls have got better things to do...

[an9ie]

Ooh! A new recipe! I love it when you post recipes :)

Yes, when I visited Japan a couple of years ago, I was astounded by the Japanese love of pneumatic boobs too. Make that pneumatic, gravity defying boobs. Wonder if the artists who depict them are all single? :-p

[Amy]

Thanks Peter. I'm a rather sporadic poster these days but am hoping things improve soon.

Thank you Tamakikat, good to hear from you.

Hello E. Thai. I live here with my husband, who is Japanese.

Hi Carlyn, nice to hear from you.

Thank you for letting me know, Gabi. They show up fine in all browsers, so it might be a problem with your server.

Our Man, there just don't seem to be any women, good or bad, blogging about politics in English. And I commend you for making something interesting out of a subject that normally glazes my eyes over with boredom.

An9ie, the funny thing is, nobody seemed to find the giant boobs odd. The Japanese girl I was with didn't even know what I was talking about when I first mentioned it. I guess when you're constantly surrounded by images of enormous breasts you start taking them for granted. That would certainly help explain why I can't find a bra here that doesn't have an inch of padding...