明けましておめでとうございます

[A-ke-ma-shi-ta, O-me-de-to-go-za-i-ma-su!]

This morning, we'll celebrate Hatsugeiko, our “first training” of the New Year . . .

Many of you already know that the posted picture is a traditional Japanese New Year’s decoration, Kagami Mochi ["mirror rice cakes”] large round rice cakes with centuries-old meaning.

Of the three regalia of Imperial Japan, the mirror symbolizes wisdom from reflection; the sword, courage in action; the jewel, humanity from the balance of mind, body, and spirit.

The myth of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, recalls how her brother Susanou, the Storm God, destroyed her rice fields. Angry, Amaterasu hid herself in a cave, leaving the world in darkness.

Crops died without Amaterasu’s light, so the other gods decided to coax her from hiding, setting up a large mirror to showcase the goddess of merriment as she danced around a bonfire.

Curious about the merry-making, the Sun Goddess peeked from her cave, saw her reflection in the mirror and, forgiving her brother, revealed herself at last.

Kagami Biraki celebrates Amaterasu’s “enlightenment,” a traditional Japanese ceremony performed by “breaking” kagami mochi or a round cask of saké, symbolizing the mirror . . .

A window of self-reflection, personal redefinition, and self-refinement to prepare for a New Year full of promise and potential.

Be sure to eat some zenzai, traditional Japanese New Year's fare, after class this morning . . .

The red beans symbolize good fortune, long life and, for martial arts, diligence in training because the phrase, mame o mameshiku, is a play on words - mame [豆] is "bean" in Japanese and mameshiku means to work diligently and seriously, without complaining.

Mochi [餅], the sticky rice cake, symbolizes the mirror for self-reflection, and its stickiness will help you STICK to your training!

See you on the mat!