Tradition: 七五三/しちごさん/7-5-3

🎎 Shichi-Go-San (七五三): Japan’s “7-5-3” Celebration of Growth and Gratitude

In Japan, early November carries a special kind of magic.If you stroll near a 神社（じんじゃ, jinja）, you might see children in bright kimono with families snapping photos under red maple leaves.This heartwarming sight marks 七五三（しちごさん, shichi-go-san）, literally “7-5-3” — a centuries-old celebration wishing for children’s healthy growth and happiness.

But what do those numbers really mean? Why do parents give their children thousand-year candy? And how did this elegant tradition survive into modern times?Let’s unwrap the story behind Japan’s 7-5-3 celebration. 🍁

🧭 What Is Shichi-Go-San? Shichi-Go-San is a rite of passage held for young children — a family’s way of expressing gratitude for safe growth and praying for continued well-being.The name literally combines the numbers seven, five, and three, representing the ages at which the ceremony is celebrated.

• 👧 Girls: ages 3 and 7

• 👦 Boys: age 5

• 📅 Date: traditionally November 15, but families often visit their local shrine on nearby weekends.
  

During this time, families visit a shrine (じんじゃ / jinja) to offer a prayer, receive blessings, and take commemorative photos.

The celebration is not a national holiday, but across Japan, you’ll find shrines bustling with proud parents and excited children dressed in beautiful kimono.

🍬 The Meaning of “7, 5, and 3”

Each number symbolizes a milestone in a child’s early life, tracing back to ancient Japanese customs among noble families.

1️⃣ 髪置（かみおき, kamioki） – Age 3:In the past, young children’s heads were shaved for health reasons. At age three, they were allowed to grow their hair for the first time — a symbol of strength and vitality.

2️⃣ 袴着（はかまぎ, hakamagi） – Age 5:Boys began wearing 袴（はかま, hakama）, traditional pleated trousers. This moment marked the beginning of independence and their role as members of society.

3️⃣ 帯解（おびとき, obitoki） – Age 7:Girls began tying a 帯（おび, obi）, the sash for formal kimono, instead of using cords. This represented entering a new stage of maturity and beauty.

These three ancient rituals were eventually combined into one shared family ceremony — Shichi-Go-San, a celebration of growth, gratitude, and hope.

👘 The Traditions You’ll See

Children attending Shichi-Go-San often wear colorful 着物（きもの, kimono）, sometimes modernized with bright ribbons or elegant hairstyles.Boys of age five may wear a traditional hakama, while girls at age seven display their first obi.

Families also purchase or receive 千歳飴（ちとせあめ, chitose ame）, long red-and-white “thousand-year candy.”Its shape represents a wish for longevity, and the colors symbolize good fortune. The candy bags are often decorated with 鶴（つる, tsuru, cranes） and 亀（かめ, kame, turtles）, classic Japanese symbols of long life.

After prayers, families take commemorative photos — often at professional studios that offer kimono rental, hairstyling, and makeup services for children.

🛐 Inside the Shrine Experience

When families arrive at a shrine, they usually perform お参り（おまいり, omairi）, a short prayer ritual: bow twice, clap twice, then bow once more.Some families choose to receive a 祈祷（きとう, kitō）, a Shintō priest’s formal blessing.

After the prayer, the shrine staff may offer お守り（おまもり, omamori） charms or more chitose ame.The atmosphere is festive yet respectful — filled with laughter, camera clicks, and the fragrance of incense.

🌸 Cultural Meaning Today

In modern Japan, Shichi-Go-San blends tradition and family memory. It’s a day when parents reflect on their child’s journey so far — the illnesses survived, the growth achieved, the joy of another year. Grandparents often join, making it a cross-generational celebration rooted in both love and heritage.

Even for those outside Japan, learning about Shichi-Go-San reveals how Japanese culture ties language, symbolism, and ritual together.It’s a living example of how numbers (7, 5, and 3) can carry deep cultural meaning beyond mathematics — representing balance, life cycles, and harmony.

🗣 How to Talk About It

If you want to describe this event in Japanese, try saying:

「しちごさん まいり に いきました。」 (We went to the Shichi-Go-San shrine visit.) or congratulate a family by saying:「おめでとうございます！」 (Congratulations!)

These short phrases show respect and understanding — and will make any Japanese friend smile.

🎯 Final Thoughts

Shichi-Go-San isn’t just about fancy clothes or candy. It’s a living cultural practice — a beautiful mix of prayer, tradition, and gratitude.For Japanese people, it marks not only a child’s growth but the entire family’s journey together.

And for learners, it’s a perfect lens into the spirit of Japanese culture: a blend of ritual simplicity and heartfelt emotion that turns ordinary numbers — 7, 5, and 3 — into a celebration of life itself.

「単語(たんご)リスト: vocabulary list」

Term (Kanji / ひらがな・romaji)	Meaning (English)
七五三（しちごさん, shichi-go-san）	7-5-3 children’s celebration
神社（じんじゃ, jinja）	Shintō shrine
お参り（おまいり, omairi）	shrine visit / prayer
祈祷（きとう, kitō）	Shintō blessing ceremony
千歳飴（ちとせあめ, chitose ame）	“thousand-year” candy for longevity
髪置（かみおき, kamioki）	age-3 hair-growing rite
袴着（はかまぎ, hakamagi）	age-5 hakama ceremony (for boys)
帯解（おびとき, obitoki）	age-7 obi ceremony (for girls)
着物（きもの, kimono）	traditional clothing
帯（おび, obi）	kimono sash/belt
お守り（おまもり, omamori）	protective charm
鶴（つる, tsuru）	crane (symbol of longevity)
亀（かめ, kame）	turtle (symbol of longevity)
しちごさん まいり（shichi-go-san mairi）	Shichi-Go-San shrine visit
おめでとうございます（omedetō gozaimasu）	congratulations