Once rice has been successfully harvested, thanksgiving rituals are held. Sheaves of freshly harvested rice are offered, and other bounty is prepared for rites honoring local guardian deities. To this day, the emperor himself makes offerings of newly harvested rice to the gods, partaking of new rice while praying on behalf of his people. This palace ritual is the Niinamesai, celebrated nowadays as Labor Thanksgiving Day on November 23. At well-known shrines with long histories, offerings presented to the gods during harvest festivals take the form of foods as they have been prepared traditionally. For example, at Tanzan-Jinja Shrine in Nara Prefecture, copious offerings called hyakumi no onjiki, or “one hundred foods,” are presented. Similar offerings are made at other shrines throughout Japan.

The twentieth day of the tenth lunar month celebrates Ebisu, deity of good fortune, whose image is traditionally placed on a shelf in a corner within the home. Ebisu is considered the patron of fishing and bountiful harvests, but in urban areas, the god assures prosperity in business. Special offerings might include grilled tai sea bream and vegetables, including daikon radish. As the family gathers to share the celebration, sometimes lots are drawn to choose which offerings each person receives. Shrines dedicated to Ebisu are found throughout the country, and festoons of tree branches are traditionally sold at festivals held during the tenth or first lunar month. These are hung with auspicious decorations that symbolize prosperity and happiness, such as oval-shaped gold coins and tai. This is also the season for freshly harvested daikon. The vegetable is an essential ingredient in many family meals, appearing in simmered dishes and vinegar salads, and as pickles. During this season, rituals are held for purification against ill-fortune and to express thanks for the harvest. At shrines, worshippers are sprinkled with water shaken from bunches of broadleaf bamboo dipped in a cauldron of hot water, in a purification ceremony called yudate. In mountainous parts of central Japan, yudate involves rhythmic dances dedicated to the gods. A traditional food prepared for these rituals is gohei-mochi, skewered cakes of pounded rice basted with miso and grilled.

November 15 is set aside for celebrating the healthy growth of children who have reached the ages of seven (shichi), five (go) and three (san). The children are dressed formally, often in traditional Japanese attire, and presented at a nearby shrine where prayers are made for their health and happiness. The young celebrants are presented with traditional stick candy called chitose-ame, “long-life candy,” and served sekihan, made with glutinous rice steamed with adzuki beans. This rice is served on such special occasions because of its auspicious red color. The chitose-ame is made of a gelatinous barley syrup that is kneaded and hardened. It carries specific significance, as Japanese legends tell of how this syrup, given in place of mother’s milk, saved the lives of orphaned infants, thus earning its reputation as being essential to children’s health and well-being. Another tradition observed late in the year honors tools that have become worn out during the year. One such example is hari-kuyo, a ritual honoring hard-working sewing needles that have become broken or damaged. The spirits of needles used for stitching fabrics are “appeased” on this day by passing them through soft tofu or pliable konnyaku konjac. Another winter tradition, celebrated mostly in Kyoto, is daiko-daki, where temples dish out servings of daikon that has been simmered in a large pot, to help people avoid catching cold.