STORY: Japan's Shichi-Go-San - Japanese for "Seven-Five-Three" - ceremony is usually a way for parents to celebrate their children growing up and wish them health and good fortune in the future. It ...

ZAMA, Kanagawa Prefecture--A traditional ceremony for children is catching on among pet owners in Japan, where dogs and cats are receiving ever more attention amid the nation’s plummeting birth rates.

November in Japan brings a unique holiday that can only be celebrated a few times in a child’s life. Shichi-Go-San (七五三), literally meaning “seven-five-three,” is an ancient holiday dedicated to ...

On October 2, before the Shichi-go-san festival, which celebrate children's growth, Chitose ame candies were filled into bags at Mishima Taisha shrine in the city of Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture.

A family of boys poses in traditional attire for photos at the Japanese Cultural Center’s Shichi-go-san event. The occasion traditionally takes place Nov. 15, when families celebrate children ages 7, ...

Preparations for "Shichi-go-san"* celebrations were carried out at Mishimataisha shrine in the city of Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, on October 2. About 40 people, including shrine staff, packed ...