Okuizome, Japanese tradition, amabro

Celebrate the growth and wish for the health with OKUIZOME

[Okuizome]
It is a Japanese ceremony to celebrate a baby’s 100th day of life.

In Okuizome ceremony, parents and relatives of a baby celebrate “greeting the 100th day of life.” They wish a baby “will never suffer from starving” and “have strong teeth.”

At the Okuizome ceremony, parents pretend to feed baby with Japanese traditional food. Of course, baby cannot eat the meal yet. However, to celebrate and make a wish for growth, pretending eating food has an important meaning.

Amabro offers the special tableware sets for Okuizome. The name of the set is OKUIZOME.
The tableware is made of Hasami porcelain. As the name explains, OKUIZOME set from amabro is for the Okuizome ceremony. However, carefully made porcelain can be used as beautiful tableware.

How about celebrating a baby’s growth with OKUIZOME tableware?
The simple tableware is a half porcelain. Half porcelain has both features of pottery and porcelain.

Okuizome tableware sets are within paulownia boxes. The lid of the box can be used as a tray for Okuizome ceremony.

Look forward to the growth of a child with OKUIZOME

Okuizome tableware set from amabro is simple and beautiful design. So, a baby can use the tableware for a long time.

After the Okuizome ceremony, parents can use them when they feed a baby with baby food.
Small size diner sets are suitable tableware for children.
Of course, each plate can be used as small plates or bowls for daily dinner.

Usually, the tableware set for Okuizome ceremony is just for the ceremony. However, the OKUIZOME set of amabro can be used in every stage of babies’ growth.
When Okuizome ceremony, a baby cannot hold the tableware. As a baby grows, he or she becomes able to hold the plate or bowl. And a child grows more, the tableware looks smaller.

OKUIZOME tableware of amabro will watch over a baby together with parents.

As the first tableware for a baby, simple Hasami ware

Do you know Hasami porcelain?
These days, Hasami porcelain has been got attention. We can see many Hasami ware at the shops.

Hasami porcelain is a traditional porcelain in Hasami town of Nagasaki prefecture. It has more than 400 years’ history.
In Japan Design Store, we offer Flat rice bowl, Bloom series, Kasane-jima series of Hakusan Toki and Mamezara, Kozara, Soba choko cup and flower rice bowl from azmaya.

The biggest feature of Hasami porcelain is the tableware for daily life. Now, there are all sorts of Hasami were such as Japanese traditional design or Nordic design. The ceramics fit contemporary life gently.

OKUIZOME sets of amabro is one of Hasami ware. Warm color of glaze and rounded form have nostalgic and new atmosphere.
The beautiful design Hasami porcelain is appropriate for the Okuizome ceremony.

The rice bowl of OKUIZOME set has straight form. It is like a miniature of the representative rice bowl of Hasami porcelain, “Kurawanka” bowl.

7 items in OKUIZOME set

OKUIZOME set from amabro includes 7 items to make a “Ichiju-Sansai” meal. Ichiju-Sansai is basic style of Japanese meal. One soup, one rice, and 3 dishes.

To make a small Ichiju-Sansai meal for the Okuizome ceremony, OKUIZOME tableware set includes 7 items; rice bowl, soup bowl, flat plate, small bowl, small plate, chopstick rest and chopsticks.

The lid of the paulownia box for the OKUIZOME set can be a serving tray.
Let us introduce the 7 items and their ways of use in the Okuizome ceremony.

1. amabro OKUIZOME “Rice bowl”

   As the name explains, it is a bowl for rice.
   In the Okuizome ceremony, most parents serve Sekihan (sweet red bean rice) to celebrate a baby’s growth. In Japan, Sekihan is a representative cerebrating menu.

   In some area, parents serve white rice, rice steamed together with chestnuts, or Takikomi rice (rice seasoned with soy sauce, vegetables, meat or seafood.)
   Takenoko (bamboo shoot) rice is also served in some regions. Since bamboo shoot grows very fast, parents wish that “may a baby grow healthily like this bamboo shoot.”

   

2. amabro OKUIZOME “Soup bowl”

   It is a bowl for soup.
   In the Okuizome ceremony, most parents serve Osuimono. Osuimono is clear broth with fish. Osuimono comes from “Suu.” Suu means suck. So, preparing Osuimono have a wish that “may a baby drink milk well.”

   In the Osuimono, bivalves such as clam or Japanese littleneck clam are popular. The shells of bivalves are always pair. And a shell cannot make a pair with any other shell than the partner. So, bivalves are the symbol of good partner.

   So, Osuimono with clam or Japanese littleneck clam has the wish that “may a baby encounter a good partner in the future.”

   

3. amabro OKUIZOME “Flat plate”

   It is a plate for grilled dish or vinegared dish.
   In the Okuizome ceremony, parents serve grilled sea bream or red and white Namasu (sweet vinegared vegetable).

   From ancient era, sea bream has been treasured as an auspicious fish.
   Sea bream is called “Tai” in Japanese. It is kind of a word play, but “Tai” reminds us “Medetai.” Medetai means happy or auspicious.

   Red and white Namasu is cooked with carrots and Japanese radish. Red and white color is auspicious combination in Japan. Also, carrots and Japanese radish are root crops. So, red and white Namasu has a wish that “live a life day by day like root crops.”

   

4. amabro OKUIZOME “Small bowl”

   It is a small bowl for stewed food.
   In the Okuizome ceremony, parents serve stewed vegetables such as Japanese Taro, sea tangle, bamboo shoot or lotus root.

   Japanese Taro gets a lot of small Taros. So, it has a wish for “blessed with child in the future.”

   Sea tangle is called “Kombu” or “Kobu” in Japanese. It is kind of a word play, but “Kobu” reminds us “Yorokobu.” Yorokobu means rejoice.

   Bamboo shoot has a wish that “may a baby grow healthily like bamboo shoot.”
   Lotus root has many holes. So, lotus root has a wish for “may a baby see through the future.”

   

5. amabro OKUIZOME “Small plate of Fujisan”

   It is a small plate for Umeboshi (pickled plum fruit), Hagatame-Ishi (small stone), or seasonal pickles.
   Japanese pride Mt. Fuji becomes a cute mamezara.

   In the Okuizome ceremony, Hagatame-Ishi is put with a wish for “may a baby have strong teeth.”
   Umeboshi has a lot of wrinkles. So, parents make a wish upon umeboshi that “may a baby live long until he or she gets wrinkles like this Umeboshi.”

   

6. amabro OKUIZOME “Chopstick rest”

   It is a chopstick rest of fan shape.
   The fan shape means “Suehirogari.” The shape of fan is widening toward the end. It reminds us the increasing prosperity as time goes on. This is called “Suehirogari.” Also, fan shape has a long-life meaning.

   

7. amabro OKUIZOME “Chopsticks”

   It is a pair of chopsticks.
   This pair of chopsticks is made of Japanese natural hiba tree.
   When a baby becomes able to use chopsticks, please use this.

   

The menu or ways of placing plates are different from regions or families. The most important thing is celebrating the growth of a baby and wishing for the health. Regardless of traditions or manners, please celebrate the Okuizome in your way.

Useful as a tableware for baby food

The OKUIZOME tableware of amabro is simple, but filled with the usability for children.

The shape of inside of the plate and bowl is not straight. There is a step near the edge of the tableware. This step makes children possible to scoop food easily.

Also, please look at the brown edge. The edge of plates and bowls are not glazed. Since it has mat texture, small hand can grab the tableware well.

What is Okuizome?

Okuizome is a Japanese traditional ceremony. It originated in Heian era (about 1000 ~ 1200 years ago.)
Okuizome is also called “Hyakunichi-Iwai”, “Tabe-Hajime”, “Hagatame”, “Hashi-zoroe”, “Hashi-Hajime”, “Mana-no-Iwai”, or “Mana-Hajime.”

At that time, unlike now, babies were hard to live for 100 days. It was difficult to take enough nutrition.
Therefore, Okuizome ceremony had been held to celebrate the 100th day of life and wish for further happiness with new tableware.

Now, parents or relatives hold the Okuizome ceremony when a baby becomes get some teeth. Prepare new tableware, and pretend feeding food to a baby with a wish for “a baby will never suffer from starving.”

Recently, parents do not care about the colors of tableware by boys or girls. The ceramic Okuizome tableware set has been popular now. Ceramics can be used for a long time.

Make a special memory of family in Okuizome ceremony

If you get the OKUIZOME set of amabro, the day will come when you tell your child that “this tableware is your first tableware.”

Simple, high-quality and stylish tableware set OKUIZOME would be great new baby gift. Also, if you look for any tableware for baby food, it is the best.

We wish the day of Okuizome will be a wonderful day for a baby and the families.