1. Shichi-Go-San Comes from Three Ceremonies Marking Changes in Children's Clothing
According to the Association of Shinto Shrines, Shichi-Go-San originates from three specific ceremonies: *kamioki* (hair growing) at age 3, *hakamagi* (putting on hakama) at age 5, and *obitoki* at age 7 [1]. The *hakamagi* ceremony is when a boy wears hakama for the first time. The *obitoki* ceremony is when a girl stops wearing the simple ties used for toddlers and starts tying an adult-style obi sash instead [1].
All of these rituals celebrate the milestone where the items worn on the body change. It is thought that children wear kimono and hakama during Shichi-Go-San today because these specific "turning point" garments remained as special festive clothing for the holiday. But what exactly happened on the day a child first put on hakama?
It is important to note that *hakamagi* specifically refers to boys wearing hakama for the first time, while *obitoki* refers to girls transitioning from toddler ties to adult sashes [1].
2. Standing on a Go Board: How Boys First Wore Hakama
Dictionaries explain that in the past, toddlers were made to stand on a Go board (the playing surface for the board game *Go*) facing an auspicious direction. They would wear a hemp kamishimo (a formal sleeveless jacket and trousers set) and then put on hakama starting with the left leg [2]. This ceremony was performed on chosen lucky days, and it was common to ask influential people to help tie the waist strings of the hakama [2].
This ritual began with court nobles during the Heian period and spread to samurai families from the Kamakura period onward [2]. Even today, the Imperial Household performs the *chako no gi* (ceremony of putting on hakama) when a child reaches 5 years old by traditional Japanese age counting [2]. The *hakamagi* ceremony is described as a ritual marking the transition from early childhood to boyhood [2].
Wearing hakama for the first time was also seen as news that the child had come closer to being treated as an adult. So, what did children wear before they started wearing hakama or obi sashes?
3. What Young Children Wore Before Hakama: The Back Charm on One-Piece Kimono
Adult kimono have a seam running along the spine called the *senui*. However, one-piece kimono for young children did not have this back seam. It was said that "evil spirits enter from the back," so threads or fabric were sewn onto the back as a charm against evil [3]. This charm is called *senmori*.
Articles about *senmori* explain that it was believed seams had the power to prevent evil spirits, and that human souls were thought to enter and leave through the back [4]. Apparently, children wearing *senmori* are depicted in the Kamakura period picture scroll *Kasuga Gongen Genki-e* [4].
The Association of Shinto Shrines explains that there is a saying: "Until age seven, a child is within the gods." This suggests that until then, a child's growth was left in the hands of the deities [1]. The small stitches on the back of the kimono likely carried similar wishes for protection and growth.
4. How Shichi-Go-San Kimono Continued in the Era of Western Clothing
According to the National Diet Library, Shichi-Go-San spread among common people in urban Tokyo during the Meiji era. The custom of dressing children in festive wear and buying *chitose ame* (thousand-year candy) took root at this time [5]. Later, as Western clothing culture became widespread, the practice of using *senmori* charms gradually disappeared [4].
In modern Shichi-Go-San celebrations, wearing kimono is not a strict rule. A blog from Santai Shrine introduces that children can choose between traditional Japanese clothing or formal Western clothes [6]. However, since the prayer service is held before the deity in the shrine, neat and formal attire is recommended over everyday casual wear.
As kimono has become a "choice" for festive wear, choosing to wear it can be an opportunity to remember these historical milestones of growing up. It is thought that as daily life shifted to Western clothes, children's kimono were repositioned specifically as items to wear on special ceremonial days [4].
5. How to Spot Growing-Up Milestones in Your Family's Shichi-Go-San Photos
If you have Shichi-Go-San photos at home, try looking at what the child is wearing to see if it corresponds to *hakama*, an *obi* sash, or a *hifu*. Even with photos in Western clothes, considering which age milestone was being celebrated can change how you view the image.
The differences between 3-year-old and 7-year-old kimono are covered in separate articles. The development of the three rituals is also discussed in other resources. If you want to learn more, try comparing the Shichi-Go-San page from the Association of Shinto Shrines with dictionary entries for *hakamagi* [1][2].