First of all, when should Okuizome be held? You may be unsure of where to hold the celebratory ceremony and photo shoot. Going out with a baby and taking photos can be a hassle. Depending on the plan, you may need to make reservations for food, costumes, etc. It is important to understand what you need to do and make a proper schedule in advance. Here, we will explain the time when Okuizome is held, what you need to prepare, such as the baby's costume and the parents' clothing, and the location of the ceremony and meal.

The most commonly mentioned day for the Okuizome ceremony is the 100th day after birth. Okuizome is also known as the "100-day celebration," so it can basically be thought of as an event to celebrate 100 days after birth.

In some regions, the first meal is sometimes held on the 110th or 120th day after birth, rather than the 100th. In particular, holding the meal after 120 days is called "eating delay" and is a prayer for a long life.

In recent years, more and more families are choosing a day that is convenient for the whole family and has good weather, rather than the traditional dates of 100, 110, or 120 days after birth. There's no need to be so desperate as to "have it on the 100th day after birth no matter what!" It's more fun to do it on a day that's convenient for everyone, and the baby will be happy to have the whole family together.

In conclusion, the Okuizome ceremony should be held around 100 days after the baby is born, on a day when the family can gather together and the weather is nice. The day that the family agrees on as Okuizome is the day to celebrate the baby.

Once the schedule is decided, make sure you have everything you need to buy in time. There are a few things you need to prepare in advance, such as clothing and food. We will discuss the contents of the food and the items used in the ceremony later.

One thing you shouldn't forget is your outfit. Formal suits or dresses are fine for moms and dads. For moms who are breastfeeding, dresses with nursing openings are convenient. You'll also be taking care of your baby, so it's best to wear clothes that are somewhat easy to move around in.

Baby clothes are more difficult than adult clothes. It's difficult to buy clothes for babies at a mass retailer in a hurry to wear them to special occasions. Besides, you want to choose an outfit that you're happy with.

At Tsukihana, we have hakama for babies. Enjoy choosing your outfit while you still have time. We have hakama for both boys and girls.

The first meal should be held at a time when the baby is fully awake. Each baby has a different daily rhythm, so it should be adjusted to suit each baby, but the basic rule is to hold it after breastfeeding in the morning, or at lunchtime, which is a little earlier for adults. Avoid holding the meal in the afternoon when the baby is tired, or after the evening, when bath time and sleep time may be affected.

The next thing to decide is where to hold the ceremony. The most common locations for the ceremony are either at home or at a restaurant. Below we will introduce the advantages and disadvantages of each.

one's home

Since it is an environment that your baby is familiar with, you can do the exercises calmly. There is also a sense of security knowing that everything is provided, including large toys such as a mobile to soothe your baby when he or she is fussy, a shower for when the baby vomits, and a change of clothes.

The downside is that preparing celebratory food is time-consuming, as you need to prepare not only the food for the ceremony but also meals for the adults.

Nowadays, you can order frozen meals online or have them delivered by a caterer, so it's a good idea to check in advance.

Or, prepare a celebratory meal just for the baby, and it's perfectly fine for adults to eat regular food! We want all adults to enjoy the baby's celebration to the fullest with plenty of time to spare.

Since it's a special occasion, we recommend preparing a variety of celebratory table settings and enjoying a wonderful presentation.

Restaurants

Restaurants and traditional Japanese establishments that cater for the First Meal Ceremony will prepare perfect food for the baby as well as food for adults.

A private room reservation is required, but most restaurants will provide a private room for the first meal. Many restaurants also provide a set of celebratory chopsticks and a teething stone, so you can leave most of the preparations to the restaurant, except for the attire. However, we recommend making a reservation early in case the restaurant fills up.

The downside is that you'll be taking your baby with you, so you'll need to prepare diapers, milk, and both your baby's usual comfortable clothes, so you'll likely end up with more luggage than usual. Also, you'll be in an environment with other guests around, so you'll need to be considerate. Bring toys and pacifiers with you in case your baby cries.

At the Okuizome ceremony, the most important thing is to have fun with the baby dressed in his/her clothes, but it is also important that the "ceremony" goes smoothly. Although it may differ depending on the region, here we will introduce the basic way to perform the Okuizome ceremony. Also, the key to the ceremony is the "tooth hardening." The tooth hardening ceremony is so important that the Okuizome ceremony is also known as "tooth hardening." Here, we will explain in detail the meaning of the tooth hardening, how to obtain the stone, and how to perform the tooth hardening ceremony.

At the Okuizome ceremony, food is prepared for the baby. Of course, babies cannot eat directly yet, so the Okuizome ceremony involves pretending to feed the baby. This ceremony is imbued with the wish that the baby will never have to worry about food for the rest of its life. The Okuizome food sold at restaurants or online is seasoned so that adults can enjoy it, so adults can enjoy eating it after the ceremony.

In the past, the oldest adult in the room would pretend to feed the baby on their lap. However, in recent years, it has become common for moms and dads to do this. There is no need to stick to tradition, so discuss it with your family and decide who will be in charge. You don't have to stick to the tradition, and if you have a bouncer that you always use, that's fine too.

The basic food for babies consists of three items:

• rice
• Soup
• Fish (sea bream with tail)

Using celebratory chopsticks, bring these to the baby's mouth in the following order:

Rice → Clear soup → Rice → Fish → Rice → Clear soup

After repeating the above three times, the final ritual is the tooth-hardening ceremony. Please refer to the following section for more information on how to perform the tooth-hardening ceremony.

In some regions, in addition to the above three dishes, simmered dishes and pickles (pickles and vinegared dishes) may also be arranged. In these cases, the order is slightly different and is as follows:

Rice → Clear soup → Rice → Fish → Rice → Clear soup → Rice → Simmered dish → Rice → Clear soup → Rice → Vinegared dish → Rice → Clear soup → Rice → Teething ring → Rice → Clear soup → Rice

It is a good idea to follow the customs of the area where you live or where the ceremony will be held. Please ask your parents or the restaurant staff in advance. During the ceremony, the baby will be wearing a costume such as a hakama, so this is a good opportunity to take photos. Enjoy taking photos with all the family members who are participating. If you don't have enough people, we recommend fixing your smartphone in a holder and taking videos.

The tooth-hardening ceremony is a prayer for the baby to have strong teeth. Stones are used in the ceremony. They should not be large, but small stones that can be hidden in the hand and have a smooth surface without sharp edges. The best color for the stone is black or white.

Please choose the method of obtaining stones that best suits your family's circumstances from the options below.

• Borrow from the local shrine
• Buy blessed stones online
• Purchase a set that includes the first meal meal online
• Use what is provided at the restaurant

A local ujigami is a shrine where the god who protects the area where you live lives. If you don't know, ask someone who has lived in the area for a long time, or call the local Shinto shrine office. You can find the contact information for the Shinto shrine office on the website of the Association of Shinto Shrines.

If you want to borrow a stone from a shrine, go to the shrine grounds and pick up a suitable stone. Don't forget to pray at the shrine. Please return the stone you used in the ceremony at a later date.

You can also purchase stones online. They are sold separately or may be included in a frozen meal set. If you don't have time to go to a shrine, you may want to consider purchasing one. If you are holding the ceremony at a restaurant, some will even arrange the stones for you. Please inquire at the restaurant.

Here is how to do the teething stone. It is done after or during the ritual of bringing food to the baby's mouth in turn, as mentioned above. Place the teething stone on the tip of a chopstick, and then place the chopsticks on the baby's gums. Be careful not to push the chopsticks too hard, and be careful not to push too hard, as in the past the stone itself was placed on the baby's gums, but nowadays most people place the chopsticks on the baby's gums to prevent injury or accidental ingestion. Make a wish and gently touch the cute gums with the chopsticks.

Okuizome is a celebration for babies held around 100 days after birth. It is held with the hope that the baby will always have no trouble eating and will grow strong teeth. This day is also a chance to take memorable photos. Adults should wear formal attire, and babies should look stylish in attire such as hakama. Tsukihana's hakama have a professional look but are designed to be easy to put on. Please consider them as attire for your special day.