The Meaning of Kagami Mochi

By Rev. Keia Kawanishi
December 2022

Kagami mochi is the home (Jp. 依り代 yorishiro) of the New Year's god Toshigami (年神). In the first place, the series of New Year's events is an opportunity to welcome the Toshigami to the house and to see them off.

The role of kagami mochi is more than that. It has been thought that Toshigami-sama shares his soul with the happiness and blessings of the new year.

Kagami mochi is the symbol of the soul. You may be surprised to hear the word "soul," but please think of it as the power and energy to live.

In the old days, it was believed that at the beginning of the year, the spirit of the new year would be shared by the god of the year. In other words, it would be given the power of the year.

​The two tiers -- large and small -- represent the yin and yang, the moon and the sun, and age harmoniously.

Originally, a citrus fruit is put on kagami mochi to mean prosperity for generations. The mandarin orange -- called daidai -- is a citrus fruit like the orange. It is a mascot whose auspiciousness leads to more good fortune for generations -- also called daidai.

The kagami mochi found at the temple is the result of many people's work and contributions. Because of those connections, we don't use knives to cut through the temple's mochi.
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Please think of these auspicious meanings as you enjoy the mochi in ozoni and throughout the new year.

Rev. Keia Kawanishi November 2024

Rev. Kawanishi weighing mochi

Rev. Kawanishi making mochi