The Toshigami and Mochi (rice-cake)
Would you like to participate a popular event of Mochi-tsuki at the turn of the year? The Toshigami is “A type of deity invoked and welcomed at each household at the turn of the year. In archaic Japanese toshi means “rice” as well as “calendar year,” and this observance was part of an annual cycle of Agricultural Rites.
On New Year’s Day the toshigami pays an annual visit to bring blessings to each family, promising such benefits as a good crop to farmers, good business to merchants, and a big catch to fishermen. Traditional dishes are prepared on New Year’s Eve and offered to the visiting deity on New Year’s Day with sake (rice wine) and mochi (rice cakes), an indispensable part of this ritual throughout Japan. Images of the toshigami vary from those of an aged man and wife to that of a goddess, but most depict aged men and may represent the collective ancestral spirit of each family.” (quoted from Japan Knowledge, an encyclopedia)
There are two sessions. We will accept 10 participants for each session.
Date & Time: December 30 (Monday), 2024. 1st session 9:30 a.m. 2nd session 11:30 a.m.
We will welcome international graduate students in the greater Nagoya area.
Destination: Moriyama Ward, Nagoya City
Meeting place & Time: Ticket Office area (underground level), Nagoya University subway station of the Meijo Line at 9:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.
If you want to participate in this event, please fill out the application form below.
The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on December 20 (Friday).