Kagami-Mochi

Kagami mochi (镜 饼Japanese, German " mirror rice cake ") is a traditional decoration for Japanese New Year. It usually consists of two round mochi ( rice cakes ), the smaller sits on the larger, and a daidai (a Japanese variety of bitter orange ) with a leaf attached to it on top. Under the Mochi a sheet of konbu and placed in stick form, dried persimmons can be located. The whole thing sits on a stand, the Sampo (三宝, " three treasures " ) is called, on a sheet of paper (四方 红, shihōbeni ), which will keep for the years to fire from home. Fire resulted in the built primarily of wood and paper Japanese settlements often the loss of whole neighborhoods.

Also used for decoration folded into lightning form of paper ( shide ), similar to those which are found at Gohei.

The Kagami -mochi came on in the Muromachi period ( 14.-16.Jh. ).

The exact derivation of the name is unclear. The name kagami ( " mirror " ) to originate from a resemblance to the ancient round copper mirrors which are a representation of the kami in Shinto. About the mochi they say that it is a food for sunny days, and that the ' spirit ' of the rice plant is to be found in it.

The two mochi discs are supposed to symbolize the coming and going of years, the human heart, " yin " and " yang " or the moon and sun. The bitter orange, whose name means daidai "generations" should stand for the survival of a family from generation to generation.

Traditionally, Kagami -mochi are placed at different locations in the house, now usually in the Shinto household shrine, the Kamidana. Another common place is the Tokonoma, a small decorated alcove in the main room of the house.

While in the past the Mochi was still rolled, kneaded and hand-decorated, are now ready Kagami -mochi wrapped in the supermarket to buy. The more expensive daidai is often a cheaper Satsuma (a Japanese variant of the mandarin) or replaced by a plastic imitation.

There are also variations in the form of Kagami - mochi. In some regions, three-layered rice cake may be used. These are on the Butsudan (Buddhist family altar ), or is placed in front of the Kamidana. There is also another decoration of three layers called Mochi okudokazari, which is situated in the middle of the kitchen or near the window.

The decoration is traditionally broken and eaten in a Shinto ritual called kagami biraki (mirror opening) on the 2nd Saturday or Sunday in January. This is especially practiced in the dōjō various Japanese martial arts, since Kanō Jigorō, founder of judo, it took over in 1884. Since then it has spread to aikido, karate and jujutsu dojos.