Celebrating My Brother's 60th Kanreki Birthday

My brother, Dennis has reached his milestone 60th year.

Since returning to Hawaii some 4 years ago, I'm learning a lot about the Japanese celebrations that I didn't know about.  One of them is the Kanreki.

Apparently, when a man turns 60 his life clock is reset.  The birthday guy is supposed to wear a red chanchanko (sleeveless red kimono) for a long, healthy life.  Kan means return and reki means calendar.  Mom says the red is symbolic because Akachan means baby.  (It literally translates to red baby.)  And notice how Dennis forgot to wear red like I told him to.

When Art researched the tradition on line he said there was something about how at 60 a man returns to the Chinese zodiac sign under which he was born.  It means he's been around the Chinese zodiac with its 12 animal years 5 times:
12 X 5 = 60.

We looked everywhere in the house and tried to find something that had a dragon (Dennis' animal sign), but couldn't find anything until we checked my granddaughter, KC's toy closet.  You can see KC's dragon by Dennis' right hand.

We also put KC's little baby plate, bowls and utensils for his place setting. 

 

We set the table with a bunch of KC's little toys for a little added fun.

Since this was a special celebration for her only son, Mom went all out preparing his favorite dishes.  

She made her signature lemon chicken recipe that I have no idea how to make.  I suppose I should watch her make it someday.  I have no desire to really learn it because it's a rather exhausting recipe.  It takes her all afternoon to prepare it.

She also made her cucumber namasu (pickles) and set out fresh tofu and rice.

I spent the afternoon making my soba salad which is exhausting also, but he's the only baby brother I've got.

My sister-in-law, Nancy didn't realize that her son, Barry and his wife, Miho were bringing the birthday cake, so she brought two more desserts.

Nobody was complaining.

That pyramid cake was unbelievable!  It came with instructions on how to cut it.  Barry and Miho always come up with the most original desserts.

Miho said she searched for a red chanchanko, but couldn't locate one even on line.  It was so nice of her to try.



Here's almost the whole of Dennis' clan.  We missed our third nephew, Shawn who is now living in California with his family, but he called to wish his father a happy celebration.

You can see why we love our niece-in-law, Miho.  She got right into the kitchen to clean up and load the dishwasher.  My nephews also pitched in.

We gave Dennis a Sodastream soda maker because he's admired ours for quite a while.  Now he won't have to be bothered with so many cans piling up at their apartment.

It was such a happy celebration!

Someday in the not too distant future, Art will have his Koki which is the 70th birthday.  I wonder how you celebrate that one.