Kagami biraki (鏡開き) is a Japanese traditional ceremony which literally translates to “Opening the Mirror”. The meaning of the term kagami biraki refers to the transition from one stage to another. The New Year kagami biraki represents beginning the New Year with optimism. The kagami biraki tradition was adopted into modern martial arts starting in 1884 when Jigora Kano (the founder of judo) instituted the custom at the Kodokan, his organisation’s headquarters. Since then other Japanese arts, such as aikido, karate, and jujutsu, have adopted the celebration that officially kicks off the New Year; a tradition of renewal, rededication and spirit.
The origin of the ceremony is dated back to Tokugawa Ietsuna, the 4th Shogun of the Tokugawa clan (ruled 1651-1680). Ietsuna gathered his Daimyo at the castle of Chiyoda in preparation for a battle and. according to one version, displayed a mirror, performed a war dance in front of it and then prayed for victory. As Ietsuna won the battle, this became the beginning of the “Kagami Biraki” ceremony. To members of Japanese feudal society mirrors represented the soul or conscience, therefore, it was considered important to keep mirrors clean since it was thought that mirrors reflected back on the viewer their own thoughts.
A zen explanation of kagami biraki is the mirror contains an old image, for what one sees in the mirror is seen with old eyes. You see what you expect to see, something that conforms with your own self-image based on what you remember of yourself. In this way the eyes connect people with their past through the way they see their own image. This creates a false continual. Instead every moment holds potential for newness, another possibility for breaking with the old pattern, the pattern being just a mental restraint, something that binds us to the false self which people call “me.” By breaking or “opening” the mirror one breaks the self-image that binds people to the past, so as to experience the now, the present.
Kagami biraki in the dojo is the first official training of the year which is this Monday 4 January 2021 and is a time when we engage in a common endeavour and re-dedicate our spirit, effort and discipline towards our training goals. It is time for self-polishing and reflection by working on perfecting the self and reduce the ego; the concept hearkens back to the ancient concept of mirror polishing to keep the mind and resolve clear.