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The pets of Japan wish you a happy new year (some are happier about it than others)【Photos】

Casey Baseel Jan 6, 2015
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Just like how families in the west put lights on their homes and ornaments on trees for Christmas, Japan has its own traditional decorations for New Year’s. One of the most common is kagami mochi, a stack of two or three rice cakes topped with a mikan or daidai, both orange-like citrus fruits.

No one’s exactly sure why it’s called kagami mochi though, since even though the name literally means “mirror rice cake,” there’s no mirror included in the display. As a matter of fact, in the minds of some animal lovers in Japan, the design options for kagami mochi are wide open, as shown by this collection of photos where adorable pets take the place of the rice cakes.

First, just to make sure we’re all on the same page/disc-shaped rice cake, here’s what kagami mochi ordinarily looks like. Some might argue it’s a bit austere, but there’s no denying it’s very much in keeping with the simple, dignified style favored by classical Japanese aesthetics.

And here’s what kagami mochi looks like with substantial increases to both its cuteness and cat quotients.

鏡餅猫http://t.co/kIuXEpzF

— 俵屋年彦 VRアートを楽しむ会 (@tawarayat) January 1, 2013

Since New Year’s is the most important holiday in Japan, some kagami mochi displays also incorporate flourishes such as decorative cords and papers. Many Japanese people also celebrate by wearing formal kimono. This kitty is combining the two traditions in a manner as elegant as its regal-looking appearance.

鏡餅 pic.twitter.com/YMu6ZC7lam

— うらちゃん with なっちゃん (@urabanashi813) June 30, 2014

Of course, cats being what they are, not all of them are so agreeable to being enlisted into helping with the festivities.

鏡餅 pic.twitter.com/r0WW26a3fm

— 黒田まりも (@kurodama2013) December 20, 2014

The more obedient nature of dogs, on the other hand, makes them ideal assistants.

犬「一発芸します！鏡餅！」 pic.twitter.com/CQSyyovMJc

— リーチルクク (@reach_lukuku) August 2, 2013

▲ “For my next trick, I’ll turn into kagami mochi!”

As a matter of fact, their penchant for teamwork means you can visually recreate kagami mochi using nothing more than a trio of pooches.

今、友人から送られてきました(犬飼ってない＆ソースは不明) pic.twitter.com/3a5QcuIITo

— bar black sheep 道玄坂 (@hanatheshibainu) April 29, 2014

Still, they don’t seem to take to fancy duds quite as well as their feline counterparts.

This dog can't wait for New Year. His kagami mochi hat is so funny! この犬はお正月に楽しみにしているそうですね。あの鏡餅の帽子はとても面白くて可愛いです！笑ってると！ pic.twitter.com/UZ7oe0RQOQ

— & (@a511ch) December 23, 2014

But as cute as all these critters are, they aren’t exactly dead ringers for the mochi discs of real kagami mochi. For that, you’d need an animal that’s a little smaller, a little rounder in shape, and with a softer body.

Basically, an animal like this.

https://twitter.com/hatamiki3/status/546201862135750656

Anyone know how to say “Happy New Year!” in rabbit?

Source: Buzzmag
Insert image: Pakutaso