My son is curiously looking into the celebratory-tray.
He seems to be anxious with his first encounter with the foods.

　Previously, I have written an article on the baby-food start edition. In my home, the start of baby food was from 5 months old, and the first time the baby encountered “food” besides mother’s milk and baby-milk was at the ceremony of “Okuizome (Weaning ceremony).” Okuizome is also called “Hyakunichi-iwai (Hundred days celebration),” traditionally it is a ceremony held around 100 days after birth, and make a prayer for the baby not to be insufficient in food all through its life, and it also has the meaning of thanking for the safe growth for 100 days. The origin of this ceremony goes back to the Heian period (8~12th century), and even in “Heike (The Tale of the Heike)” there is a record of conducting the ceremony of Okuizome for the Crown Prince, as such it is a time-honored ceremony preserved with care by the Japanese.
　In Okuizome (Weaning ceremony), by choosing a foster parental role person and put the Hagatame-no-ishi (teething-rock) to baby’s mouth, and bring foods on the celebratory-tray close to baby’s mouth and imitating the baby is eating. For the baby to be able to receive the blessing of longevity, this role is often asked to the elder of the same sex of lineal relative. In my home, fortunately it was before the declaration of a state of emergency was announced, I asked his grandfather (my father) who attained his seventieth year. However, recently due to COVID-19 and self-restraint, it is often difficult timing to go out or invite elder person, and so, from now on, I am sure it is acceptable for the parents who are elder than the baby could take this role.
　 The feeling in which we who already became grownups could not comprehend any longer is that my son cried out every time teething-rock and foods encountering for the first time approached him. He seemed to have sensed a fear of encountering the unknown. As my son does not usually cry when meeting someone for the first time and challenging new things, so his attitude for foods were smile-provoking as well as surprising to myself. But considering it well, “Eating” is directly connected to vital activity, and fundamental activity, which even determines life and death of human being. I have sensed a mystery of endowed instinct of the baby in intuitively feared it …… or rather “awed” might be the close word for it.