May 4 SAT, 2024
Let’s celebrate Children's Day with the traditional rice cake wrapped in an oak leaf“Kashiwa-mochi”!
Kashiwa, meaning oak, is considered as a symbol of growth and prosperity. The leaf resembles the palm of a hand. The moment when the rice cakes are wrapped with leaves look like clapping hands, signifying good luck towards children living under a Samurai society. During the Edo period, the sacred “Kashiwa-mochi” was served especially among the family of Samurai and Shogun.
Today, savoring this treat has become a crucial part of a popular event “Tango no Sekku”.
Children’s Day is a nationwide festival for children, especially for boys. The origin can be traced back to the ancient era of China.
While the celebration of girls held on the 3rd of March is known as “Momo no Sekku”, the boy’s celebration held on the 5th of May is called “Tango no Sekku”. This is the day when we pray for our descendants to flourish and own a lasting legacy.
Join us here in New York City as we celebrate the tradition, and wish for the growth and good luck of our children! On the day of the POP UP event, we will offer complimentary mini-sized “Kashiwa-mochi” to all the young visitors!
Phoebe Ogawa
After training in Kyoto to learn the art of wagashi, a style of traditional Japanese confections, Phoebe returned to New York City to work as the Pastry Chef at Michelin-starred, Japanese fine dining restaurant Kajitsu and its cafe, Kokage, in Murray Hill. Phoebe pioneered a fully wagashi-focused dessert menu at Kajitsu, elevating the profile of this ancient Japanese craft in New York. After the closure of Kajitsu in September 2022, Phoebe continues to share the rich history and beauty of wagashi through her new project "Ogawagashi".