Why do we eat "Inoko Mochi" when we start to miss the warmth of home heating?

As the weather gets colder and we start to yearn for heating, a special tea ceremony is held on Inoko Day, when the hearth is opened and preparations for winter are made. Eating rice cakes called Inoko Mochi is also a seasonal tradition. In this article, we will talk about the meaning of eating Inoko Mochi, a custom that dates back to the Heian period.

**What is "Inoko"?**
In the old calendar, October is the "Month of the Boar," and the first "Day of the Boar" is called "Boar's Child." This custom originated in China before being introduced to Japan. On "Boar's Child," people eat rice cakes mixed with grains such as soybeans and adzuki beans to pray for good health, and this custom is also featured in Murasaki Shikibu's "The Tale of Genji." It's a bit romantic to think that the handsome Hikaru Genji and Lady Murasaki may have eaten this as well.

**Why do we eat rice cakes on the day of the boar's cub?**
The meaning behind eating mochi on boar cubs is the wish for good health. At a time when medical care was not yet developed, the best way to stay healthy was to avoid getting sick. Furthermore, during the Kamakura period, the custom of eating mochi on boar cubs spread among samurai families as it was believed that "wild boars give birth to many young, which is good for the prosperity of descendants."

**What is the relationship between the tea ceremony and "Boar's Child"?**
Since the Edo period, preparations for kotatsu and hearths have been made on "Inoko." In the theory of Yin-Yang and the five elements, the boar has the attribute of water and is said to have the power to suppress fires, and so it was also imbued with the wish to protect the home from fires. The hearth opening ceremony also coincides with "Inoko," and preparations for warm hospitality begin along with prayers for fire prevention. And at this time of year when people start using heating appliances, "Inoko Mochi" (rice cakes with boar's robe) began to be eaten with the hope of fire prevention. Even today, the opening of the hearth continues to be celebrated at tea ceremonies by eating "Inoko Mochi."

**Realizing the meaning that has continued since ancient times**
Good health, prosperity of descendants, safety of the home - ancient customs are imbued with wishes that people of each era have treasured. The same is true for the tea ceremony. Instead of continuing unconsciously because "it's the way it's supposed to be done," if we focus on "why we do it that way," we can discover the feelings that are embedded within. Through the manners of the tea ceremony and traditional Japanese events, we too can cherish the warm moments that are filled with our hearts.