Kagami Biraki is a special class in Aikido practice. It is both a moment of reflection and celebration as we mark the arrival of the new year. We reflect on our practice with a class focused on a foundational technique that every student knows, and we celebrate with mochi, sake and other Japanese snacks. This class is open to all aikido students, and students of all levels should feel encouraged to join in the celebrations.
“Kagami Biraki” translates to “opening the mirror” and carries many layers of meaning through Japanese culture, religion and martial arts traditions. The term “biraki” connotes a quality of “breaking open,” and so “Kagami Biraki” is sometimes translated as “breaking the mirror.” *
Jon Paul Oliva Sensei offers his perspective on the Kagami Biraki celebration and importance of acceptance as part of personal transformation:
“Kagami Biraki has a ritual function and meaning but like our own New Year’s tradition, birthdays, anniversaries of different kinds, it can have a personal meaning as well. Often when we see ourselves in the Kagami (mirror) we aren’t happy with what we see. Our society might interpret breaking the mirror (biraki) as throwing out the parts of ourselves that we dislike. However, freeing ourselves from bad habits or patterns isn’t likely to succeed if we don’t accept the parts of ourselves that sometimes lead to the unhappiness of ourselves or others. Therefore, I personally look at the transition to the new year as a way of making friends with who we are in the present, not some abstraction or idealization of who we want to be in the future. Transformation isn’t predicated on rejecting who we are now, but accepting ourselves and those around us and finding our teachers in the imperfections of our character.”
Fellow students Rob Darmour and Nathan Young share their experience with this celebration and encourage all students to feel welcome to participate no matter your level:
“Kagami Biraki has personal significance in my own Aikido practice. I started practicing in 2004 with Thoms Sensei at Eugene Aikikai. Despite my anxiety about being a new student, I joined my first Kagami Biraki class that year. It was intimidating to step on the mat, but it quickly faded as we began practicing. The technique was familiar, while the format of the class was slightly different; We were doing one technique with one partner, and no conversation. The focus offered new insight on the technique while training with a dedicated partner gave me a deeper connection with my fellow student. It was all so simple, everyone could do it. But each student was having their own unique experience. After class was over, we celebrated with chocolate cake (a Thoms Sensei favorite), wine and good conversation. It was laid back and very relatable. I came away from that evening with a deeper connection to my fellow students that allowed me to blossom in my own aikido practice. I’ve now been practicing on/off for 15 years. That night is still one my most treasured experiences because it gave me a sense of community and made aikido a path not a destination.”
“Kagami Biraki has changed my relationship to suwariwaza ikkyo in a really good way!”
*Learn more about the symbolism of the mirror, “kagami,” and the cultural traditions of Kagami Biraki in Japan. Article excerpts below.
Excerpt from Aikido Today Article:
The symbolism of the mirror, which is central to Kagami Biraki, dates back to the original trilogy myth (along with the sword and the jewel) of the creation of Japan. By the 15th century Shinto had interpreted the mirror and sword to be important symbols of the virtues that the nation should venerate. They also symbolized creation, legitimacy and authority of the Emperor and by extension the Samurai class itself as part of the feudal system.
The mirror enabled people to see things as they are (good or bad) and thus represented fairness or justice. The mirror was also a symbol of the Sun Goddess — a fierce spirit (the light face of god).
Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, pictured emerging from the cave. Her radiance reflects in the mirror, returning light to the world. Artwork, date: 1857,安政4年, artist: 三代豊国,歌川国貞(Utagawa Toyokuni III,Kunisada). Image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amaterasu_cave_edit2.jpg
Swords had long been given spiritual qualities among the Samurai. And their possession contributed to a sense of purpose and destiny inherent within the Samurai culture. So legendary were some swords that they were thought to posses their own spirit (kami). Considered as one of the Samurai’s most important possessions, the sword (and other weapons) symbolized their status and position. Firm, sharp and decisive, the sword was seen as a source of wisdom and venerated for its power and lightning-like swiftness, but it was also seen as a mild spirit (the dark face of god).
Taken together, the mirror and sword represent the Japanese In and Yo, or two forms of energy permeating everything — the primeval forces of the universe from which everything springs — the source of spirit empowering the Emperor by extension Samurai class who was in his service.
It was from this time (15th century), it is said, that the tradition of Kagami Biraki began. It developed as a folk Shinto observation with a particular class (Samurai) bent.
*Read the entire article on Aikido Today: http://aikidotoday.com/kagami-biraki-aikido-dojo-samurai-tradition/
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The term Kagami Biraki has a variety of meanings.
Article excerpt from justonecookbook.com:
Kagami Biraki refers to the tradition which Kagami Mochi (鏡餅), a pair of decorated rice cakes for the God, is removed from the family altar and broken into smaller pieces before being eaten. Eating the mochi signifies a prayer for health and good fortune for the New Year.
The literal translation for Kagami is “mirror”, and Biraki means “opening” or “to break”. Why mirror? The name “Kagami” is originated from its resemblance to an old-fashioned round copper mirror, which also had a religious significance, according to Japanese mythology.
The term also refers to the opening the lid of a sake barrel at celebratory events, such as weddings, opening ceremonies of companies, sports events, and new year celebration. At sake brewers, the lid of sake barrel is called “Kagami”. This custom of opening the barrel is also called Kagami Wari (鏡割り) “Mirror Breaking” or Kagami Nuki (鏡抜き) “Mirror Pulling”, but the term Kagami Biraki is commonly used for happy occasions. The lid of the sake barrel is opened using a wooden mallet called kizuchi (木槌) and a wooden ladle hishaku (柄杓) is used to fill the square masu (升) cups with sake from the barrel.
Breaking open the lid of the sake barrel with a wooden mallet
Also, Kagami Biraki is celebrated in many dojos (traditional martial art schools such as judo, karate, jujutsu, kendo, aikido etc) to kick off the dojo’s new year.
Join us for Kagami Biraki practice on Jan 9, 2020 at 6:15pm, followed by a celebration with mochi snacks and sake at 7:15pm. Family and friends welcome. Aikido Multnomah Aikikai 6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland Oregon