Traditional Japanese believe that Kamisama’s power resides in the rice cake. However, eating the rice cake earlier can anger the Kamisama, which refers to God in Japan. This is the day when the kagami mochi can be broken and eaten. It traditionally falls on the 11 th day of the new year, a good luck number in Japan. The Japanese celebrate it as an offering to their gods and Hotokesama (buddha). Kagami Biraki is a tradition translated as ‘opening the mirror’. They will then cook it according to their liking.Īdorable Kagami mochi with a red bow by The Happy Hapa Kitchen | Image from Instagram Kagami Biraki The Japanese recommend eating it only on the day of Kagami Biraki. However, they do not display them on the 29 th or 31 st as they are unlucky numbers. Most Japanese households would start to display the traditional cake a day after Christmas between the 26 th until the 28 th. The Japanese believed that placing kagami mochi in many locations in the house would increase luck. The Japanese rice cake is usually placed in the kitchen, bedroom, or household altar. However, decorations and charms do vary depending on families and regions. It means 'being happy' and is used as a lucky charm. The mandarin, 'dai-dai', is used to give hope and prosperity to future descendants. Meanwhile, kelp and konbu sound like the Japanese word, ‘ yorokobu’. They would come along with a decorated ‘ sanpō’ (三宝, decorated stand), ready to be put on display.Īlong with a mandarin, the traditional cake is most often decorated with colourful paper, ferns, and dried kelp. Nowadays, most stores would sell individually packed kagami mochi. The household item was considered a treasure in ancient Japan. It is often said that the stacked rice cakes resemble a bronze mirror. Beautiful Kagami mochi accompanied with traditional Japanese New Year decoration | Image from Instagram
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