On April 7, 2002 the Chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations was once again crowded with young children brightly dressed in Japanese kimono for their traditional Shichi-go-san (7-5-3) ceremony, in which they receive blessings for sturdy growth, health, happiness, and long life.

     The ceremony was conducted by Shinto priestess Mrs. Setsuko Umeda of the International Shinto Foundation, assisted by two shrine maidens (miko), Ms. Reina Hayashibara of Tokyo and Ms. Tomoko Locke of New York, in front of a wooden Shinto shrine (Kamidana) set up in the chapel, decorated with sacred folded paper strips and leafy green tree sprigs.
After preliminary offerings at the altar, the priestess announces the sacred occasion and recites blessings for the children. Each child then approaches the altar along with a parent and receives a lucky gift. The audience was guided through the ceremony by ISF Director-General Yoshimi Umeda and ISF New York Center's Hiroko Sugimoto. Twenty-three children (mostly of Japanese families) from the metropolitan New York area and New Jersey attended with their parents and guests, forming a congregation of almost a hundred persons. After the ceremony, all walked across First Avenue to United Nations Headquarters, where pictures were taken in front of the Peace Bell in the Japanese Garden.

     The event, which was originally scheduled for October, 2001, was postponed until this April due to the September 11th tragedy in New York. An annual activity sponsored and funded by the International Shinto Foundation, it has the cooperation of the Japan Foundation New York Office, the Japan Society of New York, the Consulate General of Japan, and the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations. A portion of the small donation given by participants is contributed to UNICEF for the needy children of the world.

     Mr. Jose Garcia witnessed it as one of the volunteers to assist this event. He was so impressed with this Shinto ceremony and contributed the following notes for our website.

         My impression of Shichigosan performed in New York

It is always a special event when we gather to cultivate our divine nature, and how much more this is true when we cherish and honor our children as it is done in the Shichigosan ceremony.

On April 7, 2002, we witnessed a most colorful and sacred Shichigosan where young children enthusiastically dressed themselves in traditional Japanese garments and were presented by their parents before a high priest to be bestowed blessings from the divine world.

Although you could see the great excitement in all the children, the parents seemed to be glowing with even more excitement, and we can imagine how much more excited all the deities must have been to see such beautiful souls approach them.

In the most humble manner and with the deepest gratitude, prayers were made for the children present and the children of whole world, that they may be blessed with a life full of happiness and prosperity. With this intention we again hold up to heaven the promise that humanity can reach its fulfillment.

Shichigosan is one such event where we affirm divine nature by celebrating our children and children everywhere... to see them with the joy and love that God sees them.

                                                                                      Jose Garcia
Those who want to join next time, Please contact:

The International Shinto Foundation
New York Center

Telephone:  (212) 686-9117
Fax : (212) 686-7111  
E-mail Form


We kindly request donations on behalf of the
"U.S. Fund for UNICEF,"
to benefit all the needy children of the world.