What is the true meaning of Shichi-Go-San?
Why do we celebrate specifically at the ages of 3, 5, and 7?
By exploring its origins, we can catch a glimpse of the history and spiritual heart of the Japanese people.
Recently, a friend from overseas asked me, “What exactly is Shichi-Go-San?”
After hearing that my friend’s child had just reached this milestone, I decided to look into this tradition once more.
In short: It is a traditional Japanese event to celebrate the growth of children when they turn 3, 5, and 7 years old.
However… The more I researched, the more I realized it isn’t just a simple party. This tradition reflects a unique form of prayer deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
What is Shichi-Go-San?
Shichi-Go-San (literally “Seven-Five-Three”) is a ritual where boys aged 5 and girls aged 3 and 7 visit Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples around November 15th. They go to report the child’s growth to the deities and offer prayers for their future.
The specifics, such as which age or gender is celebrated, can vary by region. Some families use the traditional Japanese age system called Kazeidoshi (where a child is 1 year old at birth and gains a year every New Year’s Day).
Today, it is common to see families dressed in beautiful attire taking professional photos for social media. Historically, people visited their local Ujigami (the guardian deity of the neighborhood), but now many travel to famous large shrines or temples.
Children walking in colorful kimonos against the backdrop of autumn leaves, accompanied by parents in formal suits or kimonos—it is a quintessential scene of Japanese autumn. This custom of dressing up and visiting shrines became established as an urban culture during the mid-Edo period (1603–1867), spreading as a fashionable and aspirational tradition.
But why these specific ages? And why November 15th?
Why Ages 3, 5, and 7?
Originally, Shichi-Go-San was not a single event. It evolved from three separate rites of passage that date back to the aristocratic culture of the Heian (794–1185) and Muromachi (1336–1573) periods.
- Kamioki (Age 3 – “Leaving the hair”): Originating in the Kamakura period (1185–1333), this was a rite for 3-year-olds. Historically, babies’ heads were kept shaven for hygiene. This ceremony marked the time they were allowed to start growing their hair. A white cotton cap was placed on the child’s head to symbolize white hair, wishing them a long life until they turn gray.
- Hakamagi (Age 5 – “Wearing the Hakama”): An aristocratic rite from the Heian period. It is the first time a child puts on the Hakama (traditional pleated trousers, a symbol of formal adult wear). It marks the transition from “infant” to “child.” Even today, the Japanese Imperial Family performs this rite for 5-year-old princes.
- Obitoki (Age 7 – “Unbinding the sash”): Starting in the Muromachi period, this rite involved removing the simple cords attached to a child’s kimono and tying a formal, wide Obi (sash) for the first time. This signified that a mischievous child was finally becoming a member of the adult world.
Originally, these rituals weren’t strictly fixed to gender or age. It was a bit more casual back then—people performed them sometime between ages 3 and 7.
Why November 15th?
These rites evolved over hundreds of years, moving from nobles to the Samurai class, and finally to commoners. The specific date was popularized during the Edo period by the 5th Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (the military and political ruler of Japan at the time).
He held a grand celebration for his son, Tokumatsu, on November 15th, 1679. Some say the date was chosen because it was a lucky day according to Yin-Yang divination. Because Tsunayoshi was the leader, everyone began to imitate him, and the date stuck.
Influenced by Chinese philosophy, it eventually settled into the pattern we know today:
- 3 years old: Boys and girls (Kamioki)
- 5 years old: Boys (Hakamagi)
- 7 years old: Girls (Obitoki)
What does “Becoming a Child” mean?
1. Becoming a Member of Society
What is the difference between a “baby” and a “child”? One answer is being recognized by the community. From the Edo period onward, a 7-year-old who completed the ritual was officially registered as a member of the local shrine’s community (Ujiko) and allowed to join the local “children’s group.”
In essence, age 7 was the first step into society. Interestingly, even today, Japanese compulsory education begins at age 6 (which is age 7 in the traditional Kazue system). It’s fascinating to see how ancient social views still influence our modern school system.
2. Leaving the Realm of the Gods
In old Japan, there was a saying: “Until seven, children are among the gods” (Nanatsu mae wa kami no uchi). Because the child mortality rate was historically high, it was believed that until age 7, a child’s soul was not yet fully “fixed” in this world; they belonged more to the spiritual realm than the human one.
This belief led to a bittersweet custom: if a child died before age 7, the funeral was kept very simple. This was not out of coldness, but out of a wish for the child to return to the gods and be reincarnated quickly back into this world. People treated the next baby as a reincarnation of the one they lost.
To us today, this might seem hard to grasp, but it was a warm, hopeful way for our ancestors to cope with life and death. It reflects the view that children are not just “possessions” of parents, but “gifts from the gods” on loan.
A Beautiful Form of Japanese Faith
When my own child reached the age for Shichi-Go-San, we visited a local shrine. Seeing my son in his cool kimono with a huge smile, while his grandparents watched over him, is a memory I will never forget.
Through this event, I felt how the ancient faith of the Japanese people is naturally woven into our modern lives—believing in reincarnation, bowing to the deities, and feeling deep gratitude for life.
Beyond the formal labels of “Buddhism” or “Shinto,” these prayers live in our daily habits. Shichi-Go-San is a beautiful symbol of how Japanese traditions and spirituality have been passed down from the Heian period to the present Reiwa era.
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Shichi-Go-San costumes and photos tend to fill up quickly due to the season,
so it’s best to make reservations early.
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