My Time in Tokyo

あえのこと

http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/RL/00271

December 5th is a special day for rice farmers in the deep Noto where I live, called Ae-no-koto. On this day it is an old tradition for local farmers to commune with the rice field gods in thanks for a good harvest. As we ate school lunch which included Adzuki bean rice, one of my teachers was reminded of Ae-no-koto and explained this Noto tradition that some farmers still practice even today. Generally this is observed at the individual houses of farmers, but some towns even have a special event for it that the public can see.

The patron of households with rice fields don a special kimono-like outfit, called kamishimo, and go out to the rice field to call the god. The farmer then invites the god to come into the house and stay inside with the family during the cold winter. They believe that the god is blind so they kindly give it directions to mind its step as they accompany it into the house. A bath is drawn for the god to bathe and relax in before dinner. After bathing, a traditional style special dinner is prepared for the occasion consisting of Seki-gohan (mochi rice with adzuki beans), a large grilled fish, and simmered vegetables. As they serve the meal to the god each dish is explained, to accomadate the god's poor eyesight. And of course they also serve and drink Japanese sake with dinner!

The god is believed to remain in the house with the family all winter from this day until February 9th, when there is another ceremony to escort the gods back to the rice fields in time for Spring planting.