Kagami Biraki

Saturday 11th January - 10:30am


Kagami Biraki is the official opening of the dojo for the year and one of the most important events on the budo calendar. The origins of Kagami Biraki are somewhat obscure but are rooted in folk traditions combined with practices peculiar to the samurai class of the Tokugawa period to mark the resumption of day to day activities following the New Year's holiday. Kagami Biraki as practiced in modern dojo is modelled on the format instigated by judo's Kano Jigoro Sensei. Here is Doshu's demonstration for Hombu Dojo's Kagami Biraki in 2019.

Kagami Biraki means literally "opening the mirror" and combines wide ranging symbolism. Mirrors have long been potent symbols within both Shinto and Buddhism. The mirror is one of the three sacred treasures of the Japanese imperial family, along with the sword and jewel. It is one of the items found on Shinto altars, symbolising the sun deity, Ameterasu O-mikami. During special periods these mirrors may be covered as Ametarasu O-mikami goes into seclusion, giving one meaning of Kagami Biraki as the mirrors are "opened" and the deity returns to the world once again. In Buddhism polishing the mirror symbolises both a cleansing of the mind and a clear perception of reality. So Kagami Biraki has a general sense of a clear minded and open hearted return to worldly activities.

As both mochi (rice cakes) and sake barrels are round like a mirror, these items have become part of the Kagami Biraki ceremony. Mochi is a traditional New Year delicacy and kagami mochi (mirror rice cakes) are a traditional New Year decoration. The kagami mochi is broken and eaten during Kagami Biraki. Likewise, sake barrels may be broken open to celebrate.

Kagami Biraki in our dojo is a simple but important celebration consisting of some short speeches, demonstrations by dojo members, a toast to a successful year and then a shared pot luck lunch. Let's share this celebration together as we refocus on our training and dojo community! Here is what you need to know;  

  • 11th January from 10:30am. The dojo will be open from 10:00
  • Clean and tidy dogi
  • Bow in and short speeches
  • Short deomonstrations by dojo members, 90 seconds to 2 minutes will be fine. Demonstration groups will be roughly by kyu grade but there are no hard and fast rules. Feel free to design your own groups and demonstrations. Come along to class from the 6th of January to prepare. There will be a rehearsal on the evening of Friday 10th January. Children will demonstrate together (Katadori ikkyo, shomenuchi iriminage and mundadori kotegaeshi)
  • The official part of the ceremony should be over by 11:30 when we bow out and then toast the year ahead 
  • Shared pot luck lunch. Please bring a dish of food that can be shared with others