Japanese New Year Decoration, Kagami-mochi

After Shimekazari, which purifies the place, and Kadomatsu, which provides housing for Toshigami, the gods of the New Year, a third decoration, Kagami-mochi, is an offering to the kami.

Kagami-mochi is made of two round-shaped mochi rice cakes, being inspired by the shape of the old-style mirrors which are among the three sacred treasures in the Japanese mythology. Kagami-mochi is placed inside the house, but also in the shrines, as the one in this photo taken at Fushimi Inari Taisha, in Kyoto.