In the past, a child’s first birthday was the only occasion for a special birthday celebration with what we now call “isshou mochi” (one-sho mochi). This was because it was quite challenging for a small child to survive until their first birthday, making it a particularly significant milestone. As for celebrating birthdays other than the first, it used to be that age was considered to increase on New Year’s Day (according to the traditional East Asian age reckoning or “kazoedoshi”). Therefore, New Year’s Day was a special day, akin to what we consider a birthday now.
In ancient times, it was believed that by eating the mochi offered to the deity (Toshigami-sama), one gained a year, indicating that mochi was considered sacred. As an interesting side note, the New Year’s gift (“otoshidama”) was not money in the past, but mochi. Mochi was used for celebrations, and it can truly be said that mochi was considered an auspicious item in the old days.
※(For birthday mochi) Colorant (Red No. 3)
