Hello, I am Yoshi from NILS Japanese language school. I got a very good news yesterday. My friend bacame a father! He is now a father of a little girl. Today, I would like to talk about one of the customs relating to a baby, “Miya mairi 宮参り.”
Miya mairi is a custom to bring and pray for a newborn baby to a Shinto shrine for the first time. it usully takes place between one month and 100 days after birth. The purpose is to express appreciation to the Shinto gods and have a shrine priest pray for his or her good health and happiness. The baby is dressed in a special kimono and red sticky rice and sake are offered to the gods. Miya mairi used be an important ritual for a baby to be admitted as a community members. But now it has become just another good luch ritual.

April 25th News, from NILS Japanese language school.