Keena's Okuizome

May 22nd was 100th day after Keena's birth, so Keena dressed up nice

and we had her "Okuizome."

We explained this about 3 years ago, but...

Okuizome is a Japanese traditional ceremony 

held on either 100th, 110th or 120th day after the baby's birth.

We cerebrate this day with hopes that baby will never suffer 

from lack of foods throughout her/his life.

We prepare a special meal for the ceremony

 and make the baby pretend to eat it as their first meal.

The special meal included...

Osekihan (red bean rice): typical celebration rice

osuimono (soup):  for our wishes that the baby will have a strong jaw

other dishes:  for our wishes that the baby will eat a well balanced diet

a tai fish (red snapper): typical celebration fish

a umeboshi   (pickled plum): for our wishes of that our baby will live long

(umeboshi was symbolized "long life" because it looks like a wrinkled face)

and 3 stones: for our wishes that the baby's teeth will be strong enough to break them 

OK, let's start the ceremony!

....

Keena needed this first...

So we ate first,

And started over!

Are you excited at your first meal?!

She pretended to eat everything.

She even ate her own hand...

Keena...

now the ceremony was done,

but we always wish for health and happiness for you throughout our lives!