Many people who are considering dressing their baby in a first kimono (ubugi) for Omiyamairi may be wondering if it can also be worn for Shichigosan, and how to make the most of it for a longer period.
This article introduces how to utilize the first kimono worn for Omiyamairi for Shichigosan, categorized by age and gender. By understanding how to utilize it when the kimono is first tailored, you can wear the first kimono for a longer period.
Utilize the First Kimono Worn for Omiyamairi for Shichigosan
Omiyamairi (Hatsumiyamairi), a rite of passage in Japan, is a traditional event held to pray for the longevity and health of a newborn baby. Since Omiyamairi is held at a shrine, many people nowadays participate in baby dresses, but many also choose to honor the ancient tradition by dressing their baby in a first kimono (ubugi, hare-gi).
Moreover, a first kimono can be utilized for Shichigosan if altered, allowing for long-term use once purchased. Below, we introduce the basic attire for Shichigosan and how to utilize a first kimono.
Girls at 3 Years Old
Both boys and girls are celebrated for Shichigosan at the age of three. In some regions, only boys at five years old are celebrated. From the Edo period, three years old marked "Kamioki," where children who had their heads shaved would begin to grow their hair.
Girls wear a vest-like garment called a "hifu" over their kimono and tie an obi (such as a heko-obi worn with a yukata). Hifu come in patterned and plain designs, so choose one that matches the color and pattern of the kimono worn underneath.
Boys at 3 Years Old
On the other hand, for boys, a kimono with a family crest (mon) and a haori-hakama set is common. Originally, the main Shichigosan celebration for boys is at five years old, so some families save the haori-hakama attire for then and dress their three-year-old boys in a hifu, similar to girls.
Boys at 5 Years Old
For five-year-old boys, it is common to wear a "Hakamagi," which involves pairing a crested kimono with a haori-hakama. In the past, real swords were used, but nowadays, boys wear a decorative "mamori-gatana" (guardian sword) at their waist, don "setta" sandals, and carry a white fan.
Colors such as black, navy, and white are often chosen, and patterns like tigers and hawks are popular to emphasize masculinity.
Girls at 7 Years Old
Only girls celebrate Shichigosan at seven years old. This celebration is called "Obitoki," where girls who previously wore children's heko-obi untie them and wear an obi similar to an adult's, symbolizing their approach to womanhood.
Seven-year-old girls wear kimonos dressed similarly to adults. However, since they are still children at seven, they wear a "yotsumi" kimono, which is "almost the same" as an adult's. Colors tend to be more subdued than at age three, and calmer patterns like "takara-bukuro" (treasure bags) are chosen.
It is common to wear an obi similar to an adult's, with a "shigoki" tied below the obi. In addition, a small accessory case and a fan are tucked into the chest area. The accessory case is called a "hakoseko," which is also used in traditional Japanese bridal attire. In the past, money, charms, and cosmetics were kept inside the hakoseko.
How to Utilize Ubugi and Introduction to Re-tailoring
So, how can the first kimono draped over a baby during Omiyamairi be utilized? In fact, there are differences in how it can be utilized and re-tailored depending on the age at which Shichigosan is celebrated.
A First Kimono Cannot Be Made into a Haori! Re-tailor and Utilize Only the Kimono
For a five-year-old boy, if Shichigosan is not celebrated at age three in their region or family, they will experience it for the first time at age five.
A first kimono used as a ceremonial robe for a baby aged 1 to 3 months cannot be re-tailored into a haori for a five-year-old boy due to its construction. Therefore, the first kimono will be re-tailored to be worn as a kimono underneath a haori. For re-tailoring, the "age-sunpo" (tuck length) must be measured to fit the child's grown body.
Re-tailoring is Not Possible for Mitsumi, Only from Yotsumi Onwards
Depending on how the first kimono for Omiyamairi is tailored, it can be utilized until Shichigosan at seven years old. However, to utilize it until age seven, the first kimono must have been tailored as a "yotsumi" first kimono from the start.
Yotsumi is so named because it is tailored from about four times the length of the body, whereas common first kimonos are often tailored as "hitotsumi" (also called "ko-dachi") or "mitsumi."
However, a first kimono tailored as a mitsumi often lacks sufficient length for a seven-year-old's height, making re-tailoring difficult. Therefore, if you wish to utilize the first kimono until Shichigosan at age seven when it is first tailored, it is recommended to have it tailored as a yotsumi.
Entrust Re-tailoring to a Professional
Some people might be tempted to re-tailor it themselves because they can sew, but a first kimono is a kimono, and its difficulty differs from sewing Western clothes. Precisely because it's a kimono for your beloved child, you want it to be in the best possible condition, right? For that reason, when re-tailoring a first kimono, always entrust it to a professional.
Summary
If you are considering utilizing the Omiyamairi kimono for a long time, re-tailoring it not just as a first kimono but also for Shichigosan, it is recommended to have it tailored as a yotsumi from the very beginning.
However, the kimono worn for Shichigosan at age seven will likely have different suitable colors and patterns compared to when the child was three, as they have matured by four years. For this reason, many people choose to have a separate kimono tailored or rent one specifically for the seven-year-old's celebration, rather than using the first kimono. If your family has not yet prepared a kimono for Shichigosan, why not consider renting one?
