Shichi-Go-San (Seven-Five-Three Festival)

Shichi-Go-San (literally 'seven-five-three') is a traditional rite of passage held on or around November 15, celebrating children who are three, five, and seven years old. Girls are celebrated at ages three and seven, while boys are celebrated at ages three and five (though regional variations exist). Families dress their children in formal attire — often traditional kimono — and visit a shrine to give thanks for the child's healthy growth and to pray for continued well-being.

The festival has its roots in a time when child mortality was much higher, making the survival to these specific ages a genuine cause for celebration. Each age marks a historical milestone: at three, children were traditionally allowed to grow their hair; at five, boys wore their first hakama (formal divided skirt); at seven, girls tied their first adult-style obi sash.

Today, Shichi-Go-San is primarily a family celebration and photo opportunity. Professional photography studios do brisk business in the autumn season, and major shrines set up special reception areas for the families. Children receive chitose-ame ('thousand-year candy'), long sticks of red-and-white candy in bags decorated with symbols of longevity, as a wish for a long and healthy life.