nanakusagayu

I will tell you about rice porridge with seven different spring herbs in Japanese “nanakusagayu” and how this is connect with religion in Japan. In January seventh Japanese eat “nanakusagayu”. Seven herbs are Japanese parsley, shepherd’s purse, henbit, turnip, radish, and so on. In that season set of spring herbs are sold in super markets. By eating it, Japanese believe that we can be healthy in a year and quiet our stomach. In New Year’s Day we eat many foods so, we need to rest our stomach with “nanakusagayu”

First picture is "nanakusagayu" and second picture is one of the seven spring herbs; shepherd's purse.

The “nanakusagayu” has connection with Shinto. Shinto is one of the religions in Japan. According to Shinto in Japan there are the days “gosekku”. In Edo period the shogunte decided that day as ceremnies. January seventh, March third, May fifth, July seventh and September ninth are the days of “gosekku”. This decision was based on a thinking of Shinto. The thinking is that to remove a malicious spirit and have power to defeat all diseases. Then it was decided that in that day Japanese eat “nanakusagayu” for this reason.

The origin of “nanakusagayu” is not known by Japanese. Moreover, a lot of Japanese do not know “nanakusgayu” comes from Shinto. However, the basic purpose of eating “nanakusagayu” has not changed. Therefore, I think even if the origin is forgotten, the hope of people for the future is not change in each period. People hope to have peace in their life.