"Kagami-biraki"

 

"Zenzai," sweet "azuki" bean soup with rice cakes

Hello. It's January 11th. 😃

At the end of the new year holiday, Japanese people eat "Kagami-mochi" to wish for our good health and happiness. "Kagami mochi," two piled-up round rice cakes, is decorated in our house in the new year to welcome "Toshigami-sama" or the new year god. It is believed as where the god stays during the new year holiday. By eating the rice cake, we can get power from the god to live happily for one year.

"Kagami-biraki" is a traditional event in which we cut "Kagami mochi" into pieces before eating. "Kagami" means mirror, which is believed as a sacred thing in Japan. And people make rice cakes round and look like a mirror. This is why the rice cake was named after the mirror, "Kagami." "Biraki" is literally "open," so "Kagami-biraki" means "open the mirror." And "open" instead of "cut" or "break" has an auspicious meaning and is believed to bring good luck, too.

The date of "Kagami-biraki" differs depending on each region. It generally takes places on January 11th. In Kansai region, it is held on January 15. 

"Zenzai" with "kagami-moch" is delicisous!😋