8 Japanese New Year Traditions

New Year is one of the most important holidays in Japan. It is an opportunity for families not only to reflect on the year that is ending and their dreams and goals for the future, but also to spend time together, catch up, cook, eat and play traditional Japanese games. Being so important, most companies, businesses and establishments close to take a break.

Joya no kane

Every year around midnight on New Year’s Eve, Buddhist temples across Japan ring their bonsho (temple bells) exactly 108 times, an event known as joya no kane 除夜の鐘. This event represents the number of human desires that, according to the Buddhist faith, cause pain and suffering . Joya no kane is a ritual meant to ward off these negative emotions from the past year.

Osechi-ryori

This is the New Year’s “banquet”. Each food in the dinner has a meaning intended to invite luck, prosperity and good health for the new year and is eaten during the first three days of the New Year. This meal is made up of foods that can be eaten without danger of spoiling even a few days after cooking. In the past, this tradition required several days of preparation. However, these days people can buy pre- made osechi in advance at department stores and restaurants.

Nengajo

Nengajo 年賀状 is the card sent to friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and relatives to wish a good New Year, and sending these cards is still a very popular tradition in Japan. At this time of year, the post office makes a special effort to organize and ensure that all nengajo are delivered on New Year’s Day.

Mochi

Mochi 餅 もち is a type of rice cake, it is a classic Japanese New Year food. These little round cupcakes are even used in certain New Year’s decorations, like kagami mochi. A very traditional New Year’s activity is making mochi on New Year’s Day. However, making mochi takes a lot of time and effort, which is why most people buy the pre-made version at supermarkets.

Toshikoshi soba

It translates as “year-end soba” and is a dish of noodles in hot broth that is traditionally eaten on New Year’s Eve (December 31). It has great meaning and symbolizes the passage from one year to the next. Since soba noodles are also long and thin, the noodles symbolize long life. Therefore, it is customary to eat them in the hope of longevity. It is a simple meal that is usually enjoyed at home with family or friends. There is no set recipe for toshikoshi soba 年越し蕎麦 so everyone can add their own twist to the dish.

Hatsumode

During the first few days of the new year, many people head to hatsumode 初詣 , the first shrine visit of the year , to pray, make wishes, express gratitude, and stock up on lucky charms known as omamori . Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines are very crowded on this day and people offer the previous year’s omamori to the temple deity to be cremated and thus purified. They also buy an omamori for the year that has just begun, as well as write their wishes and requests on the ema (wooden tablets) and find out how lucky they will be in the New Year with the omikuji .

Hatsuhinode

Hatsuhinode 初日の出 is the first sunrise of the New Year. People gather anywhere with a good view of the horizon, there are even people who climb a mountain on this day, to enjoy the first sunrise. It is a very special time when people pray for good fortune and happiness for themselves and their loved ones in the coming year.

Hatsuyume

In Japanese culture, Hatsuyume (初夢) is the first dream of the new year. Dreaming of certain images or themes in dreams two or three days after New Year’s Day is believed to be a sign that good luck will come in the future and it is especially considered good luck to dream of Mount Fuji , a falcon and/or an aubergine .

Which of these traditions have you already experienced? Which one would you like to experience? Tell us in the comments!