Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: Kagami mochi

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French version

Kagami mochi

鏡餅
alternative words: Kagamimochi, Mirror mochi, Mirror mochi cake
keywords: food , thing
related topics: New year , Muromachi period , Tokonoma , Mochi
related web sites: http://www.kagamimochi.jp
explanation: Offering for toshigami (year's god) settled on "tokonoma" (Japanese alcove) in a new year celebration. It consists to pile up 2 or 3 round rice cakes (lower is bigger) and put a "daidai" (bitter orange) at the top. It comes from a shintoist rite (the mirror is a god's symbol for them) but has been generalized since Muromachi period with an appearance of "tokonoma". On January 11th, it will be cut off into small pieces to be cooked. The ceremony is called "kagami biraki", i.e. "mirror opening".