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Japanese New Year's Food "Osechi" 日本のお節文化☆

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Fukuoka Now shows you how to spread the New Year's Cheer this December with nengajo, the ultimate winter greeting card!

As Christmas and the New Year approach, the mind often wanders to the distant shores of the land we call home, to family and to friends. Keeping in touch has been made easy ever since the internet came into being but nothing says Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year like a card in the post, especially if it has come all the way from Japan (bonus points!!). But international post remains expensive, and quickly adds up if you're planning to send a large number of cards. Luckily, Japan has a cheap and easy alternative: nengajo.

Buying your Nengajo

Nengajo are special Japanese New Year's cards that come with domestic postage included. They can be bought from stationery stores around Fukuoka such as Loft, but a great place to start is Fukuoka's Central Post Office. From the beginning of December, the Post Office has a special desk positioned outside which deals only in nengajo. Here, plain nengajo sell for as little as ¥63 and come on both printer and pen-friendly paper, meaning you can add your personal design to each card. If you want an ink-jet compatible nengajo, that'll cost you a whopping ¥73. The post office also sells pre-printed cards from ¥68 each.

Designing your Nengajo

2021 is the zodiac year of the ox and many pre-printed cards focus on this theme. But pre-printed cards can be expensive and let's face it, designing your own is much more fun. Stores like Daiso are a great source of inspiration for design, and sell all sorts of stationery. Remember though that your nengajo will be going through the post unprotected, so don't stick on anything that might fall off as it travels across the country or to other sides of the world. If you're feeling really brave, calligraphy sets (brush, inkstone, practice paper and a matt) can be purchased from ¥100 stores and great fun can be had to personalize your nengajo with a calligraphy brush.

Some Useful Phrases

If you're writing in Japanese, the characters you should use depends on who you are sending the card to. Traditionally, there are certain gashi (賀詞 - greeting words) you should avoid using when sending a card to your boss, elders, or someone who is considered above your status. Gashi can be a single kanji or a combination of two or more. It's frowned upon to send less than four kanji to your boss, but one or two-kanji gashi are okay for your friends or someone who is of lower status. Luckily there are some universal phrases that can be written on nengajo that can be sent to anyone without getting into difficulty.

1) あけましておめでとうございます。
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu
Happy New Year.

2) 今年もよろしくお願いします。
Kotoshimo yoroshiku onegaishimasu
Kind regards/thanks for putting up with me/thank you in advance for this year.

3) 旧年中はお世話になりました。
Kyunenchu wa osewani narimashita
Thanks for (everything you did/taking care of me) last year.

4) ご健勝とご多幸をお祈り申し上げます。
Gokenshou to gotakou wo oinori moushiagemasu
Wishing your family good health and happiness.

5) 年始のご挨拶を申し上げます。
Nenshino goaisatsu wo moushiagemasu
A New Year's greeting to you. (formal)

The following website kindly provides a template of New Year's greetings in many different languages, and a few English phrases for Japanese speakers.
https://yu-bin.jp/letters/phrases/

Posting your Nengajo

If you are sending your card domestically, once finished, it can simply be posted from any postbox around Japan with no need to worry about stamps. Postboxes will have a special nengajo slot from Dec. 15 to around Dec. 25. Once posted, nengajo are sorted and held until New Year's Day when all of the estimated 1.2 billion nengajo are delivered.

If you are planning to send your card abroad, pick up a special ¥7 nenga stamp to add to a regular domestic postage included nenga postcard, and you're ready to send overseas. Your total postage fee becomes ¥70. These delightful stamps feature Mt. Fuji this year, just in case your family and friends forget where you are posting from. Stamp added, take your card to the postbox and you're set to go. Unlike sending nengajo in Japan, the cards won't be held until the New Year and travel at standard airmail speeds to their destination.

Note!
It is protocol not to send nengajo to people with a death in the family in the previous year.

Costs
Nengajo: Regular nengajo, without design, but with lottery number: ¥63; Ink-Jet friendly: ¥73; pre-printed: ¥68~
International stamp (nenga): ¥7
Calligraphy set from ¥100 Shop: Brush (¥110), Inkstone (¥110), Practice Paper (¥110), Mat (¥110)

Start date
Special nengajo slots will be marked on all post boxes Dec. 15 (Tue.) to around Dec. 25 (Fri.).

Deadline
If you want your nengajo to arrive in time for New Year's day, post them by Dec. 25. Cards posted by Dec. 28 might make it, but that's not guaranteed.

Replying to nengajo
If you receive a nengajo from someone who you didn't send one to, it is considered bad manners not to reply. You should send them a card before Jan. 7, the nengajo cut off date. Anything sent after that will not be considered a nengajo, but instead a kanchumimai (winter greetings) card.

Lottery

Don't throw away the nengajo you receive! On the bottom right-hand corner of every nengajo you will find a six digit lottery number, and lucky winners will be announced on Jan. 17. There will be 1,952 first prize winners, who will receive prizes such as ¥310,000 in e-money, or ¥300,000 in cash (6 digits required). There will be 195,208 second prize winners, who will each receive a small package from their hometown or another prize (4 digits required). There's a 3/100 chance of being a third prize winner, all of whom will receive a special New Year's stamp sheet. For more details and to check if you've won anything, go to https://nenga.yu-bin.jp/.

Trivia!

Did you know you can send newly-harvested rice grains as nengajo? The grains are placed in a nengajo-shaped, vacuum-packed plastic (¥900~) and will be sent with a written message. Postage costs ¥250. A unique way to send nengajo this New Year!
Original report and photos by Oscar Boyd and Jasmin Bethke, updated Dec. 2020.

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Nengajo - How to Make a Japanese Christmas/New Year's Card | Fukuoka Now

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Nengajo are special Japanese New Year's cards that come with domestic postage included. They can be bought from stationery stores around Fukuoka such as Loft, but a great place to start is Fukuoka's Central Post Office. From the beginning of...

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Visiting a shinto shrine (how to pray, what to do) 明治神宮で初詣☆

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除夜の鐘  Joya no Kane ( The bell sound in the new years eve )

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Osechi Ryori (御節料理) are the traditional foods enjoyed on New Year's day in Japan. They come in an assortment of colorful dishes packed together in special boxes called jubako, which resemble bento boxes. Every dish of these traditional foods have special meaning in welcoming the New Year.
The Japanese celebrate the New Year Day with traditional New Year foods called Osechi Ryori (御節料理). It is considered the most important meal of the year as each dish serves as a well wishes for the coming year.

What is Osechi Ryori?

Similar to bento boxes, Osechi Ryori are usually packed in 2-3 layers of lacquer boxes (ojubako) and there are many dishes in each layer. The entire family would share one ojubako to enjoy on new year's day. The multi-tiered boxes symbolize the hope that happiness & wealth come continuously, like the layers of lacquer ware.

To welcome the New Year with you, I've included a selection of popular Osechi Ryori dishes below. You will find some traditional dishes along with a mix of modern Japanese favorites that are often served during the holiday. Each recipe also comes with a video that guides you through the cooking process.

I hope you enjoy the spread & don't miss the delicious desserts at the end!

12 Popular Osechi Ryori Dishes

1. Datemaki (Sweet Rolled Omelette) 伊達巻

2. Kuri Kinton (Candied Chestnut with Sweet Potatoes) 栗きんとん

3. Namasu (Daikon & Carrot Salad) 紅白なます

4. Chikuzenni / Nishime (Simmered Chicken & Vegetables) 筑前煮/煮しめ

5. Tazukuri (Candied Sardines) 田作り

6. Kuromame (Sweet Black Soybeans) 黒豆

7. Kazunoko (Herring Roe) 数の子

8. Kamaboko (Fish Cake with Salmon Roe) 蒲鉾いくらのせ

9. Ebi no Umani (Simmered Shrimp) えびのうま煮

10. Shake no Kobumaki (Salmon Kombu Roll) 鮭の昆布巻き

11. Kikka Kabu (Pickled Chrysanthemum Turnip) 菊花かぶ

12. Decorative Kamaboko (Fish Cakes)かまぼこ

Typically served in a lacquered jubako (special square boxes similar to lunch box), is sweet rolled omelette that makes a very popular Japanese New Year's food. It is by far my favorite dish among the new year foods. And I hope you give this delicate looking omelette a try too!

Kurikinton literary means "chestnut gold mash", which symbolizes economic fortune and wealth. It's important for New Year meal to bring good luck and prosperity. If you make this dish, please use Japanese Sweet Potatoes for its bright yellow color. Not only they are sweeter than regular sweet potatoes, yellow is also an auspicious color for the new year.

is a daikon and carrot salad that is lightly pickled in sweetened vinegar. This dish was introduced to Japan from China around 700s (Nara period) and it is especially enjoyed during the New Year in Japan. Since red and white are considered celebratory colors in Japan, you will see these colors being used in many traditional ceremonies. This salad is easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time.

Chikuzenni is a classic Japanese dish often served on New Year's Day, but my mom makes it regularly because it was my family's favorite Nimono (Japanese simmered dish). This is also a popular side dish for bento because it can be made in advance and still tastes great at room temperature. For New Year's dish, the vegetables and konnyaku are cut into fancy shapes to celebrate the occasion.

Made of roasted baby sardines & coated in a sweet soy sauce glaze, is another popular dish for osechi ryori. We eat tazukuri on the New Year's day as it symbolizes a bountiful harvest. Tazukuri (田作り) literally translates to "making (作り) rice paddy (田)" as sardines were once used as fertilizers for rice fields.

literally means "black bean (黒豆)" in Japanese, and it is often served on New Years Day as a part of Osechi Ryori. The shinny black beans make a beautiful contrast to red lacquer jubako container, which holds all different kinds of colorful traditional meals. Eating kuromame also is considered good for your health for the new year.

We enjoy this golden colored Kazunoko on the New Year's day as it symbolizes prosperous family and many offsprings. This prized delicacy has unique crunchy texture and it's one of the most popular dishes among Osechi Ryori.

With its elegant presentation, Kamaboko with Salmon Roe makes an impressive addition to your osechi ryori. You'd be surprised how easy it is to make the recipe. Simply make small slits across the Kamaboko (fish cake), stuff in shiso leaf, and top with golden salmon roe.

Simmered shrimp cooked in dashi soy sauce and soaked overnight, this beautiful dish adds a bright color and delicious flavor to your Osechi Ryori.

Flavorful salmon rolled up in kombu and tied with kanpyo (gourd strips), Salmon Kombu Roll is a traditional Japanese dish for the New Year. Representing the secrets of perennial youth and long life, you may be tempted to devour more than one of these exquisite appetizers.

Simple decorative touches on a vegetable can transform a dish from ordinary to special. These Pickled Chrysanthemum Turnips will bring your Osechi Ryori game to the next level. And you only need some basic cutting techniques!

Two Japanese fish cakes (Kamaboko), seven beautiful designs to cut Japanese fish cake! Make ordinary fish cake into decorative designs on this Oshogatu (Japanese New Year)!

12 Popular Side Dishes & Desserts to Serve with Osechi Ryori

Ozoni (Japanese New Year Mochi Soup) is clear dashi based mochi soup with chicken and seasonal vegetables, which is enjoyed in Kanto region (Eastern Japan). This comforting winter soup usually includes toasted mochi, chicken, and Japanese mustard spinach and served with varieties of osechi ryori.

This Kansai-style Ozoni is a miso-based soup enjoyed in the morning on New Year's Day. The soup includes mochi (rice cake), and the preparation varies by region and household. My recipe is an adaptation from my mom's recipe where I include leafy green vegetables and yuzu peel.

From sweet to savory, there are various types of mochi (Japanese rice cake) we enjoy in Japan. For savory dishes, mochi is used as a topping for Ozoni, hot udon noodle soup, or inside Okonomiyaki. For sweet dishes, you will find Mochi Ice Cream, Zenzai (Oshiruko), Strawberry Daifuku and so on. So for Japanese New Year, you have the perfect excuse to enjoy them all.

Red bean paste is used as a filling in many delicious Japanese sweets and desserts. This Pressure Cooker Anko recipe is an easy way to prepare the sweet bean paste without much hassle. Once it's cooked, you are set to make all sorts of mochi or Dorayaki and Taiyaki.

These refreshing Cucumber Wrapper Sushi could be served as appetizer for your New Year celebration. Once the rice is cooked, you can quickly assemble the sushi right before you serve. If you don't eat raw fish, you can substitute with smoked salmon or simply create your own.

Although it is not part of osechi ryori, sushi is regarded a celebratory food in Japan and most holidays include one variation of sushi or another. Japanese New Year makes a special occasion to enjoy otoro sushi, where you feast on the most valued part of the tuna belly.

Hosomaki (Thin Sushi Rolls) are an easy and fun dish to serve during your New Year's get-together. To get started, you just need a few ingredients like tuna, cucumber, nori, and Japanese short grain rice.

This traditional thick sushi roll Futomaki is typically filled with various vegetables and sometimes include cooked fish like unagi. This colorful sushi roll is perfect special holidays and celebrations.

Zenzai is a thick sweet dessert soup made of azuki red beans and often served with mochi (toasted rice cake). Although is not considered part of osechi ryori, this delicious dessert soup is a comforting treat for Japanese people especially during the winter time.

For a different variety of zenzai, I recommend this unique Matcha Zenzai, where red bean paste with soft mochi are served in a green tea soup. This exquisite sweet can be enjoyed hot or cold. If you have last-minute guests visiting, you can prepare it easily and serve as a snack or dessert.

Yuzu is commonly used in Japanese cuisine when it's in season in fall or winter. I think it's wonderful to make Yuzu Sorbet to round up the Japanese New Year dishes for a bright future. It also helps to refresh the palate for the delicious foods we enjoy during the holiday.

A chilled Japanese red bean jelly, Mizu Yokan is a traditional sweet in Japan. Shaped like a rectangular block with a firm texture, my recipe includes golden chestnuts inside the jelly for a festive touch. This Mizu Yokan is a great edible gift if you are visiting your family for the New Year's.

Wish to Learn More about Japanese New Year?

Click here to find out more about how Japanese people celebrate this annual festival.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy making these Osechi Ryori recipes during the New Year's holiday! If you make one of these recipes, snap a picture and hashtag it #JustOneCookbook. I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter! Thank you so much for reading and till next time!

Don't want to miss a recipe? Sign up for the FREE Just One Cookbook newsletter delivered to your inbox! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest updates.
Editor's Note: Original post was published on Dec 27, 2015. The content has been updated in December 2017.

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Osechi Ryori おせち料理 (Japanese New Year Food) * Just One Cookbook

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Osechi Ryori (御節料理) are the traditional foods enjoyed on New Year's day in Japan. They come in an assortment of colorful dishes packed together in special boxes called jubako, which resemble bento boxes. Every dish of these traditional foods have special meaning in welcoming the New Year.

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How Japanese celebrate New Year! 日本のお正月 (2015年)

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Otoshidama is a Japanese traditional custom where adults give money to the children in their family. It originated from a shrine ritual in which kagami-mochi (round rice cakes) are offered to the god of the New Year ( Toushi-kamisama). After the ritual was over, the cakes were given to the people worshipping at the shrine. Over the centuries, otoshidama became the name for gifts offered during theNew Year period, though they were originally called onenshi or onenga (New Year's greeting).

The Custom

Photo : Laura Tomàs Avellana on Flickr

Otoshidama is usually given by grand-parents, parents, as well as uncle and aunts. The amount given depends on the child's age and it's put in a small envelope before being given to the child. The amount varies from 500 up to 10,000 yen with older children receiving more. Many children will buy the toys they wanted with their otoshidama, but some parents will take half of the total to keep in the children savings. There are many kinds of envelopes to put otoshidama in, from simple ones to those with popular characters or cute patterns.

The Amount

There is a wide age range in which one will receive otoshidama and it depends on the household, but usually, people will receive it from either babyhood or toddlerhood to around 20 years old, which is the legal adult age in Japan. In large families, the otoshidama expenses are large for the adults, but for children it is an annual time to look forward to. Every year Japanese children dream about what they will buy with this year's otoshidama.

When?

Otoshidama are received on the first up to third January every year but it can be sent afterwards if parents and children didn't meet each other. Otoshidama is similar to a Chinese New Year custom, to shugi-bukuro, and to Handsel Monday. The difference is that shugi-bukuro is for married couples and usually the money given is worth from 30,000 up to 50,000 yen. The difference with the Chinese New Year's money-giving tradition is that it always falls on a different date every year according to the Chinese calendar. Handsel Monday is a tradition from Europe and the money gift is always done on third Mondays.

At Last

Photo : tecking on Flickr

The meaning of giving otoshidama to children is to give some appreciation to them, and give them some new hopes for the New Year. Not only that, but their parents also want to teach about savings! Although they get some money, they must keep some of it, not use all of it at once. If they use it all at once, they will not be able to buy other things later if they want something in that year. No wonder that some of the children want to use it all at once, and at that time, their parents only give them some advice, and let them to choose their own way. Well, learn from experience! So, there are many lessons behind this simple custom in Japan. How about your country? Does your country have these kinds of customs too? Let us know in the comments section!

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Otoshidama is a Japanese traditional custom where the adults must give some money to a child in their family.　The meaning of giving otoshidama to children is to give some appreciation to them, and give them some new hopes for the New Year.

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Today I want to introduce "Ema" (絵馬) which are wooden wishing plaques of Japanese shrines.
I'm sure most of you have seen them when visiting Japan or on various photos, but you weren't sure what exactly they are or what they're called?

What exactly are "ema"?

"Ema" are wooden wishing plaques.
This is a Shinto custom and thus can be found at shrines all over Japan.
As Buddhism and Shinto have mixed up a lot, it is not unique to shrines. You MIGHT find them in temples, too!

In recent days people write their wishes or prayers on a wooden plaque that can be purchased at the shrine and then hang it up on the shrine grounds.
But where does this tradition come from?

The origins of "ema"

"Ema" consists of two kanji: 絵馬; the one for " picture" and the one for " horse".
Horses were seen as the "vehicles of gods" (神の乗り物) and during the Nara period (710-784) people donated horses to the shrines so that the gods would be more likely to listen to their prayers and fulfill wishes.
However, horses were expensive and thus people who couldn't afford it used horse figures made of wood, clay or paper instead. Finally the wooden wishing plaques with a picture of a horse on them were born.

During the Muromachi period (1336-1573) certain shrines started to display other things besides the horses, e.g. foxes at Inari Shrines.
Later during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1603) there were even "ema halls" (絵馬堂) where various artists displayed their ema design work. This can be compared to our modern art galleries.

In the Edo period (1603-1868) it finally became common that individuals could purchase very small plaques to communicate their wishes to the gods more conveniently.

The different ema designs

Nowadays there are all sorts of pictures displayed. Very common is the current year's zodiac (e.g. 2012 was the year of the dragon, so you'd see a lot of dragon pictures). Very often it's the picture of a god or spirit that's connected to the shrine.

However, in recent days basically EVERYTHING is possible. I've seen various anime and even Rilakkuma ones!! I guess those are especially popular among little kids. Very often you'll find more than just one picture per shrine, especially in bigger ones.

When it is exam season, you'll find mostly "goukaku" (合格) wooden wishing plates. Students all over their country wish that they'll pass their tests.
Very common is also to pray for success in the next sport event, health, love, safe childbirth.

How to properly use an "ema"

Anyone can purchase the plaques. Usually they cost around 500-1000 yen. You purchase them at the small booth where you can also get a seal in your seal book or lucky charms. If nobody is around you just put the money in a box and take one of the plaques.
Yes, that's Japan!
I guess they're not worried that anybody would take one without paying!
With the money the shrine is also supported financially.

It's not difficult to fill out an "ema". There are no strict rules. Sometimes you're supposed to write your wish on the front, you basically overwrite the picture and you can write your name and address on the back. For others you don't touch the picture side, but write your wish on the back.

In big cities such as Tokyo you'll find a lot of foreign languages on those plaques! A good place to check them out is Meiji Shrine!

If you're interested to see more ema designs and want to know some more details, please proceed to PAGE 2!

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Today I want to introduce "Ema" (絵馬) which are wooden wishing plaques of Japanese shrines. I'm sure most of you have seen them when visiting Japan or on various photos, but you weren't sure what exactly they are or what they're called? "Ema" are wooden wishing plaques.

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In most countries of the world, especially those of Christian tradition, Christmas brings among other things, Christmas decorations. From houses to businesses, coffee shops and even some offices are filled with different types of ornaments. Japan has also been infected with this custom (as of many others), but those who have lived in Japan or have gone in December will have been seen that between ornaments of red and white colors with motifs of Santa Claus, reindeer and christmas trees there are others much more frequent and peculiar for us. You may have wondered what they' re or mean. They' re traditional Japanese decorations, and are linked to the New Year, not Christmas (which is an imported holiday).

Today I would like to explain you the main three types of decorations:

Kagamimochi

One of the most typical New Year's ornaments that you can found in any store or supermarket with different designs and sizes is the kagamimochi (鏡餅).

Traditionally it was made with two mochis (rice paste) rounded stacked one on top of the other and above all a tangerine or Japanese bitter orange called daidai (橙). Although today there're also families who do it in the traditional way, especially in the countryside or more rural areas, in large cities the most common is to buy a plastic one at any store or supermarket. To do it correctly, one must make the mochi paste from the beginning and people don't have that time or the necessary tools.

But even if they are made of plastic on the outside, inside there's authentic mochi and you can eat it. As I said at the beginning, there are different designs and sizes. For example, how this new year is going to be the year of the rat according to the Chinese horoscope, there are many kagamimochi that are adorned with an adorable mouse. Or even with Disney characters, mainly Micky and Minnie (which are originally two mouses).

The kagamimochi is an offering to the Shinto gods and it's said that the two mochis represent the Ying and Yang, the Moon and the Sun or even the years that come and go. Therefore, it cannot be placed anywhere or in any way, but rather placed on a special cloth called shihoonbeni (四方 紅), which in turn is placed on top of a wooden support called sanpoo (三宝). The families that can, put this whole set on the small Shinto altar of the family, called Kamidana (神棚) or if you don't have this Shinto altar you can place it in the tokonoma (床の間), which is a cubicle or small raised space in a Japanese-style room with tatami floor called washitsu (和室)

The kagamimochi is usually eaten on January 11 or the second Saturday or Sunday of January in a Shinto ritual called kagami biraki (鏡開き).

Another of the ornaments that you most seen in Japan these days is the shimekazari (注連飾り). While in the West we put in our doors the wreath ring tree with "Merry Christmas" messages in Japan they put the shimekazari on the doors of houses and businesses to attract and welcome the Gods of good fortune and get away the evil spirits.

The original shimekazari is made up of a string of rice straw called shimenawa (注連縄) that has zigzag strips of paper, called shide (紙垂). They also have pine leaves (symbolizing longevity) and a bitter orange (a symbol of posterity), among others. Currently we can find them in different styles and with different ornaments but they must to have at least these four things.

If you have been to a Shinto shrine in Japan you will probably have seen somewhere in the shrine (usually around a sacred tree or similar), the same rope with zigzag strips of paper found in the shimekazari. It's a sign that marks a place as the home of some Shinto God, and therefore marks a sacred place in which evil spirits cannot enter. As a curiosity I will explain you that the zigzag strips of paper represent thunder and rain. Japan is a country that lived mainly from rice, and to have a good harvest, the rain was important.

The shimekazari is a smaller version of this symbol to protect our home or business from evil spirits and receive the new year without negative influences. Some drivers, especially taxi drivers, even put a shimekazari on the front grill of the car, to protect themselves from traffic accidents.

Finally we have the kadomatsu (門松), which consists of three bamboo shoots of different lengths, pine and plum branches. As with the shimekazari, the kadomatsu is placed at the entrance or the garden as it's said to serve as a temporary abode of the Shinto Gods who come to visit the underworld to bless humans.

And as in Japan almost all things have a meaning and aren't made randomly, the same happens with the kadomatsu. Bamboo symbolizes prosperity, and we can find it cut diagonally (kadomatsu sogi) or horizontally, showing the knots (kadomatsu zundou). The pine, as with the shimekazari, symbolizes longevity. Finally, plum branches symbolize constancy. Kadomatsu literally means pine door, but in Japanese pine (松) is pronounced the same as waiting (待つ). That is why it's said that pine branches in Kadomatsu mean "waiting for God", being these pine branches the most important of kadomatsu and not bamboo canes, as people often think.

Formerly they were put in the garden from December 10. However, with the arrival from the West of Christmas and Santa Claus to Japan, the placement of the kadomatsu has been delayed for fear of a fight between the gods and the merchants. Currently it puts after 25 and before 29 (in Japan, 9 is a bad luck number because it sounds like "bad times"). In the same way, during the Edo period the tradition said that they should be burned after January 15, but currently it has been passed to January 7.

What do you think about these decorations? 😃Is there any peculiar decoration in your country? If you want to know more about how to spent Christmas and New Year in Japan don't miss these articles too!

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Traditional Japanese New Year Decorations

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The New Year in Japan has its own customs and traditions. Do you want to know which ones? Let's learn the decorations that the Japanese use in their homes to leave bad things behind and start the new year in a good way!

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Writing Nengajo

A typical Nengajo

The Japanese may not send very many Christmas or birthday cards, but they do send a lot of special postcards called nengajo that are delivered on New Year's Day.

New Year's is a very special holiday in Japan - it's probably the biggest item on the calendar of annual events. There used to be a custom of calling on relatives, neighbors, and those who bestowed kindness over the preceding year during the first few days of the new year. But after the post office began issuing postcards in the Meiji period (1868-1912), people began sending these cards instead as a form of greeting.

In response, the post office started a service whereby it delivered these greeting cards on January 1 if they were posted by a certain date in December. Postcards carrying lottery numbers went on sale in 1949, with the holders of winning numbers receiving prizes. The popularity of nengajo increased immensely as a result, and the practice of sending postcards took root. Today the post office prints up more than 3 billion prize-carrying New Year's cards every year.

In addition to inscribing standard phrases like Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu (Happy New Year) on these cards, people often jot down what they've been up to lately and their new year resolutions. They also decorate the cards with color markers, oil or acrylic paint, black ink, montages of colored paper, paper cutouts, or woodblock prints. Recently people have also been creating original cards with their personal computers. The number of people sending and receiving by email not just designs but also nengajo themselves has increased sharply. On the Internet, nengajo services permitting video clips to be sent together are available as well, finding many users, young people in particular.

Kadomatsu are placed in front of entrances to homes

Popular graphic elements include such New Year motifs as kadomatsu (decorations made of pine branches), kites, plum flowers, and the sun rising against Mount Fuji on New Year's Day. Even more popular, though, are illustrations of the animal for the coming year under the Chinese zodiac, which moves in a 12-year cycle. The Chinese zodiac isn't referred to all that often in Japan anymore, but it's still a popular item on New Year's cards.

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Writing Nengajo A typical Nengajo The Japanese may not send very many Christmas or birthday cards, but they do send a lot of special postcards called nengajo that are delivered on New Year's Day. New Year's is a very special holiday in Japan - it's probably the biggest item on the calendar of annual events.

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Learn about the animals of the Japanese zodiac (Juunishi) and whether you share any traits with the animal associated with your birth year.