Experience a Fascinating Traditional Japanese New Year

In Japan, the main celebration/holiday is New Year.

New Year is a time when families come together from all over Japan to meet up in their family home.

It’s a time to eat, drink a little too much and spend time with loved ones.

The traditional New Year is full of fascinating rituals and copious meanings and symbolism.

I think the best way to experience a traditional Japanese New Year is to go through it as you would if you were there.

New Year’s Postcards – Nengajo

Well before the New Year, people have to plan and send their New Year postcards.

The New Year postcards will express New Year greetings and what they and their families have been up to, it’s a good way to keep in contact with family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.

It’s very common to have the Chinese zodiac animal for the New Year on the card (2022 – Tiger) and nowadays personalized cards with pictures of their family on them.

It’s a very similar custom to people in the west sending Christmas cards.

The New Year’s postcard has an added extra, there is a set of numbers at the bottom of the card, this is called nengajo tosen. These numbers could win you a prize or a cash amount. The winning numbers are announced on the Japanese Postal website in mid-January.

If you send your postcard before December 25^th the post office will hold on to the postcard and it will be delivered on January 1^st, so great service and wonderful to get so many New Year greetings from friends and family on New Year’s Day. So a lovely start to the New Year.

New Year Decorations

Hagoita decorations

A Hagoita is a rectangular paddle, traditionally used to play hanetsuki, a type of traditional Japanese badminton. It’s believed to drive away evil spirits, by batting them away with the paddle.

The paddles are beautifully decorated with silk, wood, washi (Japanese paper), they are often decorated as faces from traditional theater plays, geisha, kabuki actors, or sumo wrestlers. You can see them and buy one from temples around New Year.

Kadomatsu

The Kadomatsu is a decoration which you see in front of people’s houses and offices, from just after Christmas until January 7^th.

It looks very impressive and is made from pine/bamboo and plum (ume) trees. These materials have been chosen very carefully. Pine, bamboo, and plum trees symbolize longevity, prosperity, and sturdiness.

The Kadomatsu is believed to provide temporary housing for the Toshigami Sama (deity), so ensuring a great harvest and blessing from the family’s ancestors to everyone living/working in that building.

Kagami – Mochi

Kagami – mocha is translated as – mirror rice cake. Looking at this decoration you might wonder where is the mirror, nothing seems to resemble one.

A long time ago mirrors in Japan had a round shape, and were often used for important Shinto rituals. As mirrors are believed to be a place where gods reside, this mochi (rice cakes) are shaped like the ancient round mirrors.

So it’s thought by having this decoration in your home the gods will reside in the rice cake decoration, granting you good fortune in the New Year.

On January 11^th the mochi making up the decoration is broken up and used in dishes. It’s thought the mochi has been an offering to the deity (god), so eating the mochi will bring good fortune in the New Year.

Oosoji – New Year Clean

In Japanese culture the New Year should begin with a clean slate, so the house needs a deep/big clean (Oosoji).

Usually, on the last weekend of the year, the whole family takes part in a deep clean of the house. Every inch of the house should be clean, ready for the New Year. I suppose it’s similar to other countries that have a Spring clean.

New Year’s Eve

Toshikoshi Soba

Now you have prepared for the New Year by sending your New Year postcards(Nengajo), deep cleaning your home (Oosoji), and putting up your New Year decorations, it’s now time to enjoy some traditional food.

The families prepare a traditional meal called toshikoshi soba, the long noodles symbolize a long and healthy life.

Soba noodles when making them cut more easily than other noodles, the symbolism of this is cutting away all the bad luck, misfortune of the old year, to start the New Year afresh.

Toshikoshi soba also has the symbolism of “letting it go” (nagasu) as the noodles slide down your throat and forget about it, so it represents letting everything you have been through this year and then moving on, refreshed and unburdened into the next year.

The toppings for the noodles can vary on your taste and the region of Japan you are in. A popular is shrimp (Ebi), the shrimp’s curved back symbolizes a long life.

Joya no Kane – Temple/Shrine bell ringing

One of the most interesting traditions I came across was Joya no Kane – Temple/Shrine bell ringing. This is one of the most important rituals for Buddhists, the temples ring their bell a total of 108 times, the bell is struck 107 times in the existing year and the 108^th in the new year.

In Buddhism, it is believed that humans are plagued by 108 types of earthly desires, such as anger, suspicion, and lust, that prevent us from achieving ultimate happiness. These desires/feelings are called Bonnou.

Each strike of the temple bell removes an evil desire, so we can enter the New Year as a new person without any of the 108 evil desires.

Hatsumode – First Temple/Shrine Visit

Hatsumode is the first visit to a shrine or temple during the first few days of January, families will pray together for good fortune in the New Year. The bigger and more popular temples/shrines will have food stalls and maybe some events.

People are always intrigued about what the future holds for them, so Omikuji is popular, you pay money and randomly choose a slip of paper from a box. The Omikuji predicts general matters of health, fortune, love, life, etc.

If you find the predictions are not what you wanted or just bad, you can fold the strip of paper and attach it to a pine tree or metal wire panel in the temple/shrine grounds. It’s believed if you do this the bad luck will stay by the tree and won’t attach itself to the person. If it’s good luck, many people will keep it or you could attach it to a pine tree or wire so that the good fortune will intensify and grow.

When you pray there is a set procedure you should follow:

• First throw some coins into the box in front of the altar
• Ring the bell using the rope
• Bow twice
• Clap your hands twice
• Then bow once more

Hatsuhinode – First Sunrise

Another New Year’s tradition is to observe the first sunrise of the year. People will either stay up all night or set their alarm to get up to see the first sunrise.

Some people will travel to the seaside or other scenic areas to witness the first sunrise. If you can view the first sunrise as it comes up by Mt. Fuji is extra special.

Osechi Ryori – Traditional New Year Food

The Japanese eat a selection of dishes during the New Year celebration called osechi – ryori, commonly shortened to Osechi. Many of these dishes are sweet, sour, or dried, so they can keep without refrigeration, this goes back to when most households didn’t have refrigerators and most shops/stores were closed for the holiday.

Osechi – ryori is commonly served in a beautiful 3 or 4-layer bento box called a Jubako, and placed in the middle of the table and enjoyed by the family.

When you eat Osechi – ryori, you will use a special type of chopsticks called Iwai-Bashi. Usually, chopsticks get thinner towards one of the ends that you use to pick up food, but with Iwai-Bashi, both ends are sharp. This is because one end will be used by you, and the other end is believed to be used by a deity (god).

Traditionally the osechi – ryori chopsticks are made from willow, the tree deity’s (gods) live.

Osechi – ryori is offered to the deity first, who then allows you to share the food, so you will be blessed with a fruitful year.

The hidden meaning of Osechi – Ryori’s dishes

Osechi was quite a simple food – vegetables boiled in soy sauce and vinegar, but over time, more and more types of food were added. Japanese tastes have changed over the years and Osechi reflects this.

Almost all of the Osechi Ryori dishes have a special meaning related either to the name of the food in Japanese or its appearance.

Datemaki – Learning/Academic ability

Datemaki is a sweet rolled omelet with hanpen (fish paste). Traditionally important documents or paintings were rolled up. Datemaki looks similar to rolled-up paper, so the dish is believed to represent a desire for development and learning.

Kuri-Kinton – Wealth

Kuri-Kinton is sweet chestnut, the color is golden, so you can make the link to precious metal. So it represents wealth and riches coming to you in the New Year.

Kohaku Kamaboko – Protection/Sunrise

Kamaboko is boiled fish paste, commonly the colors are red and white. Red is believed to repel evil spirits, the white represents purity. The shape of Kamaboko resembles the rising sun, which previously mentioned is auspicious for a good New Year.

Also the colors and the rising sun feature in the Japanese national flag.

Kobu-Maki – Happiness

This dish is made from kelp (seaweed). The Japanese word for Kobu means joy and happiness.

Kazunoko: Fertility

Kazunoko is herring roe, with a little bit of wordplay Kazu means numbers and Ko means children. So Kazunoko symbolizes having many healthy children.

Ebi (shrimp) – Longevity

If you look at a shrimp it has a bent back and antennae, that looks like a long beard, so represents living to a good old age. The red color of the shrimp comes into play as well, as stated before the color red is said to keep evil spirits away.

Kuromame – Health

Kuromame is a black bean dish. According to Taoism, the color black provides protection from evil spirits. Also the word “Mame” originally means good health and strength.

Tatsukuri (Gomame) – Reward/Gift

Tatsukuri – dried, sweetened baby sardines. The English translation of Tatsukuri means rice farming. This sounds strange rice farming and sardines, what is the connection?

Well a long time ago Japanese farmers used dried sardines as a fertilizer. This dish is also called Gomame means “50,000 grains of rice”, so the sardine fertilizer must have produced a marvelous harvest of rice.

So this dish represents a plentiful/good harvest in the New Year.

Renkon – Forecast/Prophecy

In Buddhism Renkon (Lotus root) is considered a plant of purity, and believed to grow in the heavenly pond where the Buddha lived. This vegetable has very distinctive holes when it is cut in cross section, because you can see clearly through to the other side, there are no obstacles, or at least you can clearly see any obstacles.

So it is thought that eating the lotus root your future will be prosperous with no obstacles.

Gobo – Strength and Stability

Gobo (Burdock root) is a popular vegetable, the burdock root is hard to cut down. The burdock root symbolizes hope for a life of strength and stability.

Kuwai – Celebration

This is an underwater plant that grows along tuber. Its long extended shape has come to represent having a long steady career.

Tai – Celebration

Tai (Sea Bream-Red Snapper) is a fish for celebration in Japan. It’s a play on words it comes from Medetai meaning “to celebrate”.

The fish is eaten when a child is born or at weddings for prosperity and happiness.

So it’s the perfect fish to start the New Year with.

Ozoni

A traditional New Year’s breakfast, it’s a broth or soup with grilled mochi. The soup will vary according to the region and even in families. In Kanto (Tokyo area) the soup is made from bonito and/or seaweed, in Kansai (Osaka area) the soup is made from miso.

Mochi is a very thick and sticky rice cake, elderly people have to be careful Mochi can be a choking hazard.

Summary

There are many more dishes you can have with Osechi Ryori, this is just a selection, as you can see every dish has a meaning and has a positive significance, which will start the New Year in a very positive light and families looking forward to a prosperous New Year.

The Festival of Seven Herbs – Nanakusa no Sekku

After over indulging during the New Year period, your stomach might be feeling overwhelmed, but there is a traditional remedy to help with this condition.

On January 7^th, the Japanese observe a tradition known as Nanakusa no Sekku, or the festival of seven herbs, by eating a healthy rice porridge called Nanakusa Gayu.

This custom is believed to bring good health and protect you from evil spirits for the rest of the year, also there is little green during the mid-winter, the fresh green herbs bring color to people’s lives, but also adds vitamins and minerals to peoples diet, so helping to ward off illness.

The traditional seven herbs used in the rice porridge are:

• Japanese parsley
• Shepherds purse
• Cudweed
• Chick weed
• Nipplewort
• Turnip
• Radish

Don’t worry you don’t have to go up into the mountains and dig in the snow for these seven herbs, nowadays if you go to the local supermarket you will find a fresh pack of the seven herbs, prepared for you.

Fukubukuro – Lucky Bag

Fukubukuro means “Lucky bag”, these are sealed bags full of goods. So when shoppers buy their bag it’s a mystery to them what is inside so adds to the excitement. There are YouTube sites where people reveal the contents of their lucky bag, live to their followers.

Of course you will have some idea of what’s inside depending the type of shop you bought it from, clothes, electronics, food etc.

Fukubukuro come in all price ranges from “one coin “(this refers to a 500 Yen coin) all the way into the millions of Yen.

The bags go on sell from January 1^st , the most popular shops have long lines of people desperate to get their hands on a Fukubukuro, and so the bags are quickly snapped up.

A cynic might say it is a way for shops to get rid of goods/old stock, but it is a great way to attract customers to your shop.

Otoshidama – New Year gift of money

As part of the Japanese New Year’s celebration, it’s a tradition for adults to give money to children.

The money is given to the children in a special envelop called “Pochi-bukuro”, there are many types of designs and styles from popular children’s characters to the zodiac animal of the year (2022 – The Tiger).

The amount of money given to the child, depends on the relationship of the adult to the child.

Just as a rough guide:

• Preschool – Y2,000
• Elementary – Y2,000 – 3,000
• Junior high – Y5,000
• High school – up to Y10,000

It is reported up to half of college/university students still receive Otoshidama.

You wouldn’t give 4,000 or 8,000 Yen as these numbers are considered unlucky.

Whatever you do, don’t open the envelope in front of others, that is considered bad manners.

Hatsuyume – The first dream of the New Year

The first dream of the New Year is important, in Japan its believed your first dream can foretell the forthcoming events to you in the coming year.

As we mentioned earlier its popular to stay up all night December 31^st/January 1^st to experience the first sunrise of the year. So the first dream of the New Year is considered January 1^st / 2^nd.

It is considered to be particularly good luck to dream of:

• Mount Fuji
• A Hawk
• An Eggplant (Aubergine)

At first look these seem to be odd things to dream about, the simplest theory is that this combination were favorites of the shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Let’s have a look at some other interpretations of these dreams.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, so dreaming of Mount Fuji you are reaching great heights, your loft aims/ambition are more likely to come true by dreaming of Mount Fuji.

Also Mount Fuji is considered sacred and a deity.

The Japanese love wordplay, so Fuji is close to sounding like Fushi which means immortality.

Hawk

The hawk is a strong, powerful and intelligent bird, which soars high in the sky. So these characteristics are looked favorably on.

So it has common symbolism to Mount Fuji of reaching great heights, so can be interpreted into what’s important to you, your career, or other things you highly regard.

Eggplant (Aubergine)

Dreaming of an Eggplant doesn’t sound as exciting as Mount Fuji or a hawk.

It’s believed the Eggplant used to be an expensive vegetable, so it could be a dream about gaining wealth/riches.

The Japanese word for Eggplant is “Nasu”, which can also mean accomplish.

So next January 1^st / 2^nd I hope you dream of Mount Fuji, a hawk, or an eggplant, and your dreams come true.

Koshougatsu – The Japanese Little New Year

Koshougatsu is the final celebration of the Japanese New Year, it takes place on January 15^th.

On the morning of Koshougatsu, Japanese families eat rice porridge with azuki beans called Azukigayu. The azuki beans symbolize health and are believed to protect the family from illnesses for the whole year.

Dondo Yaki

In Japan, when the New Year celebrations are over, the traditional decorations are taken down, but they aren’t stored away for next year, they are burnt on a big bonfire, this is Donko Yaki.

As previously mentioned in this article, most people in Japan visit a Shinto shrine during the first days of the New Year, this is known as Hatsumode. As well as praying for good fortune in the coming year, people buy lucky charms/amulets for good luck, health, safe driving, exam success, love, career advancement, and many other wishes.

These charms, omikuji, daruma dolls are kept for a year, but it’s regarded as extremely bad luck for these items to just be thrown away, these items should be properly disposed of during the Dondo Yaki.

So on January 15^th, a large bonfire is built on the grounds of the Shinto shrine, using bamboo and pine branches, on the bonfire, people place their New Year decorations, charms/amulets, omikuji, and daruma dolls on to the bonfire.

Shinto priests will conduct the traditional ceremony of ‘Oharai’ to keep bad luck away.

The bonfire is then set alight.

The New Year decorations are meant to attract the Gods to people’s homes and reside in them, so the flames will release the Gods so they can return to heaven.

Burning the charms and decorations symbolize breaking up with the past and the desire to move forward and progress into the New Year.

At some Shrines, people roast mochi on sticks from the flames of the Dondo Yaki.

I have heard they strap sweet potatoes onto long bamboo sticks in some local areas and bake them in the hot ashes. It’s believed eating sweet potatoes baked in the ashes from Dondo Yaki brings you a year of good luck.

I hope you have enjoyed finding out about a Traditional Japanese New Year, there are so many events and customs, please consider this as an introduction to a Traditional Japanese New Year.

If you found this Traditional Festival intersting, please look at the other Japanese Festivals we have covered.

The Obon Festival https://japanesetales.com/obon-festival-bon/

Tanabata (Star Festival) https://japanesetales.com/tanabata-the-star-festival/