Last month, we went to Shichi-go-san Festival for my son who is 2-years-11-months-old (3-years-old in December).

　In eastern Japan, boys are celebrated only at the age of 5, while in western Japan, boys are often celebrated at the age of 3 and 5. The celebration of 3-years-old comes from a common rite of passage called “Kamioki (a ceremony of allowing the hair to grow at the age of three)”, so it was originally celebrated by both boy and girl like in western Japan, but in modern times it has been simplified and only girls are celebrated seems to have settled in eastern Japan.

　My family originally came from western Japan, but now I live in eastern Japan, so I can adopt either custom, but being a rare opportunity, and since I wanted to rejoice that my son has finally grew up to be 3-years-old, I decided to visit the shrine for Shichi-go-san festival.

　 It was a pleasant autumn day, and I felt refreshed. As my son is the first child, so far, I have spent my days making a series of decisions while worrying about raising a child for the first time. But on the day of Shichi-go-san festival, I felt as if the stiffness in my shoulders that had accumulated from all those hardships was suddenly disappearing into the blue sky. Aah, even if I do not do this or that, this child is protected by God, should I say it is a feeling that it will be okay from now on. It was an important experience to realize that he was supported by a great protection.