Nishinomiya Shrine packs chitose ame bags ahead of November Shichi-go-san visits
In short
Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture is at the peak of packing chitose ame candy into celebration bags for the November Shichi-go-san season. Miko shrine maidens are filling the bags, and the shrine expects about 5,000 visiting families, with the peak around mid-November. One miko said the packing is done with prayers for children's health and happiness.
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Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, is at the peak of packing chitose ame candy into celebration bags ahead of the November Shichi-go-san season, when families visit to pray for children's growth. Miko shrine maidens are filling the bags with red-and-white candy, according to the reports. TBS NEWS DIG described the candy as given to wish for children's healthy growth and longevity. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The shrine expects about 5,000 families. Nippon TV News reported the shrine anticipates more than 5,000 groups, mainly on weekends in mid-November, while Yomiuri Shimbun said roughly 5,000 families visit, centered on Nov. 15. [ 1 , 3 ]
A miko at the shrine said the packing is done with prayers for children's health and happiness. Yomiuri identified her as Shinoda Mitsuri, 24, who said: “I put in my feelings of praying for the healthy growth and happiness of the children.” Nippon TV quoted a miko saying: “We are packing them while praying for the healthy growth and happiness of the children.” [ 1 , 3 ]
Nippon TV News also reported that the celebration bags include stationery sets, medals and picture books made by local people, along with the chitose ame. No other document mentions these additional items. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The packing is a seasonal preparation at a major shrine for Shichi-go-san, a custom in which families pray for children's growth. The documents present it as a routine annual event with a local readership; they give no indication of wider consequences.
Key facts
- Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, is at the peak of packing chitose ame into celebration bags ahead of the November Shichi-go-san season. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Miko shrine maidens are filling the bags with red-and-white chitose ame. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The shrine expects about 5,000 visiting families, centered on Nov. 15 and mid-November weekends, according to Nippon TV News and Yomiuri Shimbun. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Nippon TV News reported that the bags also include stationery sets, medals and picture books made by local people. [ 1 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun identified one miko as Shinoda Mitsuri, 24, who said she packs with feelings of praying for children's healthy growth and happiness. [ 3 ]
- Nippon TV News quoted a miko saying the bags are packed while praying for children's healthy growth and happiness. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the celebration bags also contain stationery sets, medals and picture books made by local people, as reported by Nippon TV News. Only one document, Nippon TV News, mentions these additional items.
- The exact expected number of visiting families and the timing of the peak. Nippon TV News says more than 5,000 groups mainly on mid-November weekends, while Yomiuri Shimbun says about 5,000 families centered on Nov. 15.