ネイティブが教える英会話のジェムスクール☆Teachers☆

Japan has a tradition called Kagami Biraki (literally the opening of the mirror). This term is today used when opening a wooden cask of sake with a wooden mallet at a ceremony. This is performed at various times of the year such as New Years, sporting events, business deals, etc.

Over the holidays, I recently witnessed this event on New Years Day at a hotel I was staying at. All guests were invited to watch, while selected guests opened the sake cask using the mallets. Then the guests were offered a small glass of the sake to bring in the new year.

Supposedly, the round, wooded lid of the cask represents harmony, and the breaking of open the cask represents breaking open good fortune for the new year. I have seen this done on TV and in movies, but this was the first time I witnessed it in person. It was an interesting experience of Japanese culture.