January 11th is “Kagami-biraki.”

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Kagamimochi is one of the traditional New Year symbols in Japan.  Kagamimochi is a set of two circular, flat rice cakes, one is smaller than the other.  These two rice cakes are piled with small one on top and displayed as an offering to god during New Year’s holidays.  Placing two rice cakes of different sizes on top of each other is referred as good luck being overlapped and considered to be fortunate.  Round-shaped rice cakes are considered to represent human spirits – hearts – and they have been called ‘Kagamimochi’ for ancient common mirror (kagami). 

New Year’s Day has always been a fresh start for all the living things, when god is believed to offer energy to all of them.  It is the displayed kagamimochi that god entrusts energy with.  Kagami-biraki is to release the entrusted energy and be blessed with it by eating the rice cakes.  

When the event of kagami-biraki is held simply depends on each district and its custom, but it is generally held on January 11th.  There is not much strict tradition to practice kagami-biraki except how to split the rice cakes.  Kagamimochi is a holly offering so should not be cut by a sharp knife.  Instead, break them into appropriate sizes by hands or solid objects like a hammer.  Regardless the odd-shaped pieces, the rice cakes shall still be tasty in Ozoni, vegetable soup, Oshiruko, sweet bean soup, or simply grilled with your favorite seasonings.

In recent times, more and more traditions are fading out, but kagamimochi seems to be widely spread.  Even a small-sized kagamimochi displayed in one corner of a living room can create some holiday atmosphere without a set of gorgeous New Year’s food.

May 2016 become a lively year for all of us.  Enjoy Kagamimochi!