Rio's Okuizome Celebration

Monday we celebrated Rio's Okuizome or "first eating." Here in Japan Okuizome is celebrated around 100 days after a child is born to signify the parents' hopes that the baby will always have enough to eat throughout his lifetime and never worry about food. Obviously, as in America, in previous generations the infant mortality rate was high, so 100 days was time to rejoice.

At Rio's baby shower, I received the beautiful Okuizome set you see in the picture.

Traditionally, Okuizome offers the baby soup, rice, boiled vegetables, pickles, tea, a whole fish, and a rock to promote strong teeth. I followed this tradition, but substituted a piece of shrimp tempura in place of the fish and filled the soup cup with rice cereal. Don't forget these are only offerings, so Rio didn't eat anything except the rice cereal.

And here is Rio soaking up all of the attention.

The outfits of the day. Ravyn in her Kimono and Rio in his Japanese ensemble.