Okuizome 10-04-2010

Location: Somewhere in BK
Time: 8pm
People: RB, CK and myself

Feelings: As a child, my mind was far too occupied with Def Leppard and Duran Duran's fascinating fashion and music to be concerned with Japanese tradition and custom. But since CK's arrival, I feel somewhat pressured to teach him all the Japanese customs I know. Now I understand the struggles immigrant families go through with keeping the tradition.

Today was his 100th day after he was born. On this day in Japan, people celebrate by the ceremony called Okuizome, in hopes that the child will never have to suffer from the lack of food for the rest of his life. Okuizome means "first meal," and the baby would pretend to eat food at this ceremony. People usually prepare a traditional regional Japanese meal and serve in a special place setting made for Okuizome. From chopsticks to bowls, everything is made smaller for the babies. Unfortunately, RB and I work full time, and we don't have time to cook, but I had to do something on this celebratory day.

I would probably get yelled at by all the Japanese mothers (who are probably stay at home moms since they get one year maternity leaves), but I bought microwavable sekihan, sticky rice with azuki beans for this day. I microwaved this quite conveniently made rice for two minutes, and it was ready. RB and I held CK and pretended to feed him using our chopsticks.

We might not have had time to make an extravagant meal or afford expensive baby chopsticks, but our hearts were there. We just wanted him to experience a bit of Japanese tradition and welcome him to a world of delicious food.