Views of Japan

In November around the 15th the Japanese will celebrate shichigosan - 七五三 seven-five-three. Shichigosan is a traditional custom for three and seven year-old girls and five year-old boys. In ancient times at age five boys could grow their hair (young boys heads were shaven) and wear hakama. Five year old girls were able to wear an obi with their kimono at this age.

Today shichigosan is a thriving business. Families like to dress their children in the traditional Japanese dress of ancient times (kimono and hakama) and there are hundreds of companies catering to this with costumes for hire and photographers to take the photos.

My wife wants to have our son’s photo taken in traditional garb for this occasion so together with his cousin who is also five, we have been visiting these businesses to see what the costs are for hiring these costumes.

The cheapest we’ve been able to find so far is ¥29,900 ($388.42 Aus). This is cheaper than hiring a wedding suit in Australia.

I’ll take the photographs, naturally, so I am also scouting for the best locations.

Photos taken with an iPhone 3G. Last two poses taken with a Softbank mobile phone.