Mitarashi dumplings
were first made as an offering to the gods at the Aoi Festival and Mitarashi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto City.
The story goes that when water was scooped from the Mitarashi Pond, one bubble floated first, then four bubbles floated up after a short pause, and these bubbles were made to resemble dumplings.
According to another story, the dumplings were made in the shape of a human head and arms and legs, which were placed in front of the gods to pray, and then taken home to be eaten over a fire with soy sauce to ward off bad luck.
