Kagami mochi Facts for Kids

Kagami mochi (鏡餅, "mirror rice cake") is a special decoration used in Japan during the New Year. It's made of two round rice cakes, called mochi, stacked on top of each other. The smaller mochi sits on the larger one. On top of these, there's usually a Japanese bitter orange called a daidai with a leaf still attached.

Sometimes, kagami mochi also has a sheet of konbu (a type of seaweed) and dried persimmons underneath the mochi. It sits on a special stand called a sanpō (三宝). This stand is placed over a sheet called a shihōbeni (四方紅), which is believed to protect the house from fires in the coming year. You might also see paper decorations called gohei (御幣) attached. These papers are folded into lightning shapes, similar to those on a sumo wrestler's belt.

What is Kagami Mochi?
Symbolism of the Decoration
Where Kagami Mochi is Placed
Modern Kagami Mochi
The Kagami Biraki Ritual
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What is Kagami Mochi?

Kagami mochi first became popular during the Muromachi period in Japan (from the 14th to the 16th century). The name kagami means "mirror." People say it got this name because it looks like the old, round copper mirrors used a long time ago. These mirrors were also important in religious ceremonies.

It's not fully clear why mochi is used for this decoration. Some ideas include:

Mochi is a food eaten on special days.
The spirit of the rice plant is thought to be in the mochi.
Mochi is a food that gives people strength.

Symbolism of the Decoration

The two stacked mochi discs have different meanings. They can represent:

The old year ending and the new year beginning.
The human heart.
The balance of "yin" and "yang."
The moon and the sun.

The daidai orange is also very symbolic. Its name sounds like the Japanese word for "generations." Because of this, the daidai represents the wish for a family to continue happily for many generations.

Where Kagami Mochi is Placed

In the past, people would place kagami mochi in many different spots around their homes. Today, they are usually found in a family's Shinto altar, called a kamidana. They are also often placed in the tokonoma. This is a small, decorated area in the main room of a Japanese home.

Modern Kagami Mochi

Today, you can often buy kagami mochi already shaped and packaged in plastic at supermarkets. Instead of a real daidai orange, you might find a mikan (a type of tangerine) or even a plastic fake daidai on top.

There are also different styles of kagami mochi. In some parts of Japan, people use three layers of mochi instead of two. These three-layered decorations are often placed on a family's Buddhist altar, called a butsudan, or on the kamidana. Another type of decoration is called an okudokazari. This one also has three layers of mochi and is placed in the center of the kitchen or by a window.

The Kagami Biraki Ritual

Kagami mochi are traditionally broken apart and eaten in a special Shinto ceremony. This ceremony is called kagami biraki, which means "mirror opening." It usually happens on the second Saturday or Sunday of January.

This ritual is very important in Japanese martial arts schools, known as dojos. It was first brought into Japanese martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, who founded judo, in 1884. Since then, the practice has spread to other martial arts like aikido, karate, and jujutsu dojos.