Bokksu Snack Box
Ringing in the New: Celebrating New Year's in Japan
Every country celebrates the turn of the year in their own style. For most, it's as simple as partying and dinners among friends and families. In Japan, the holidays carry a much larger significance that reflects in religion, sports, entertainment, cuisine, and relationships. This post is a guide to the culture, traditions, and customs of the Japanese New Year. We'll provide you with all of the details so you know what to expect when the day comes.
Introduction to New Year's Celebrations in Japan
The Japanese New Year (Shogatsu) is an annual festival that starts on the first day of the year (January 1) and ends after three days (January 3). It's one of the most important holidays in Japan, filled with so many traditions, family gatherings, and festivities.
New Year in Japan is, at its core, a familial holiday. Most businesses shut down, and their workers are given some days off to spend with their loved ones. Family members gather from far and wide to spend time together. They also participate in customs like eating symbolic feasts, visiting temples, sharing gifts, decorating the home, and going on outings.
The Japanese New Year also features a wide range of festivals and social events that could last for up to a week. One of these events is an address by the Emperor on January 2. This is one of only two occasions in which the private grounds of the Tokyo Imperial Palace is open to the public.
According to Japanese tradition, every new year is a separate entity from the previous year. Hence, people approach it as a fresh start, and they often complete all of their duties before January 1. Some go as far as hosting bonenkai parties, also known as “year-forgetting parties.” There's a lot to unpack about this essential holiday. The rest of this post will provide you with details of Japanese New Year's traditions and customs, along with the etiquettes involved.
The First Moments: Joya no Kane
Joya no Kane is a Japanese Buddhist tradition that involves ringing a temple bell (bonshō) 108 times on New Year's Eve to cleanse the 108 worldly desires. Some temples ring it less or more, but 108 is the standard number.
The tradition began as a Zen Buddhist event in the Kamakura period (1185–1333) but evolved into a nationwide tradition during the Showa Period (1926–1989). According to Buddhist beliefs, the senses of sight, smell, taste, body, mind, and hearing are split into several variations that make up the 108 sins. Some Buddhist factions believe 108 is the number of the different kinds of suffering that plague mankind. There are those that take a less religious angle and associate 108 with the sum of the number of months (12), microseasons (72), and solar terms (24). Temples allow visitors to strike the bell at midnight on December 31. Some start ringing it just before midnight and carry the ringing into the first sunrise of the new year. Others start ringing after midnight.
Osechi Ryori: A Feast of Good Fortune
Osechi Ryori are traditional New Year meals in Japan. They're often served at social gatherings and events in the first week of January. The foods are served in special compartmentalized boxes known as jūbako. These boxes resemble bento boxes, used to serve lunch meals in Japan. They may contain different kinds of dishes.
Making and sharing New Year's food is one of the longest-standing Japanese traditions, beginning as far back as the Heian period (794-1185). Each dish in the box has a symbolic meaning. The following are examples of Osechi Ryori and the symbolism behind them:
-
Broiled fish cake: Also known as kamaboko, this dish is arranged in special patterns. It symbolizes the rising sun and festive celebrations.
-
Japanese bitter orange: The daidai fruit is a symbol of the desire to bear children in the new year.
-
Konbu seaweed: This umami-rich seaweed treat represents joy in the household.
-
Black soybeans: Also known as kuro-mame, it's one of the most popular components in Osechi Ryori. It is a symbol of good health.
-
Prawns: It typically consists of prawns skewered on a stick and seasoned with soy sauce and sake. It serves as a symbol of longevity.
-
Egg roulade: Called Nishiki tamago in Japanese, this dish symbolizes wealth, abundance, and good fortune.
Hatsumode: The First Shrine Visit
Hatsumode is the first visit to a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple of the new year. It typically takes place on any of the first three days of the year. From January 1–3, millions visit shrines and temples in Japan to pray for good luck and prosperity. Hence, you should expect to see long queues at major religious sites.
Besides praying at the temples and shrines, visitors also buy new amulets known as omamori, which are said to bring good luck and protection throughout the year. They also return old amulets from the past year for proper disposal. Another common practice is the buying of omikuji, a written oracle that predicts what the year has in store for you. People who receive predictions of bad luck can save their year by tying this prediction to a tree located on a religious ground. The most popular hatsumode spots in Tokyo are Sensoji Temple and Meiji Shrine.
Otoshidama: The Gift of New Year's Money
Thanks to the practice of Otoshidama, New Year is probably the best time to be a kid in Japan. Otoshidama is the custom of giving money in decorative envelopes (pochi-bukuro) to children. This New Year’s tradition is commonly practiced by adults. They give monetary gifts to kids in their neighborhood, household, and extended family. Otoshidama evolved from a practice that began in the Edo period (1603-1868). Wealthy people would distribute gifts of mochi and oranges among kids in the area. According to Japanese folklore, giving otoshidama to kids is like giving an offering to Shinto deities. In return, the deities will protect the children who receive these gifts.
The envelopes used are decorated with designs, such as simple patterns, iconic folklore symbols, and anime characters. There are no strict rules regarding how much you should give. However, a rule of thumb is to offer 2,000 to preschoolers, 3,000 yen to elementary school students, and 5,000 to kids in junior high or high school. You can give toys to the kids who are too young to understand money.
New Year Games and Entertainment
Certain traditional games have become synonymous with the Japanese New Year celebration. They provide something fun to do and add a festive mood to family gatherings. The following are some of the most popular traditional games to play during the New Year:
-
Karuta: These are Japanese playing cards with Portuguese origin. Each game has 3 players. The objective is to touch cards matching cards drawn from a deck. The first person to get rid of all the cards on their side wins the game.
-
Hanetsuki: This is a racket game that's quite similar to badminton. In it, two people compete to keep a shuttlecock in midair for as long as possible by repeatedly hitting it with a wooden paddle.
-
Sugoroku: This is a Japanese board game with two distinct versions. The first one (ban-sugoroku) resembles backgammon, and the second one (e-sugoroku), is similar to snakes and ladders.
-
Fukuwarai: This is a popular New Year children's game in Japan. The objective is for players to reconstruct a paper drawing of a blank human face by adding facial fractures made from cutouts. The best part is they have to achieve that blindfolded!
Watching Kohaku Uta Gassen: A Musical Tradition
Kohaku Uta Gassen is an annual Television Special that airs on New Year's Eve in Japan. Watching this show has become a customary tradition in the country. Produced by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), this program is broadcast live on TV and radio nationwide and in some overseas countries. It features the most popular music artists of the year. These invitees form two groups: red and white. The red team is dominated by female artists, and the white team is made up of mostly male acts. The two teams compete against each other via a series of music, dance, makeup, and fashion contests. As a singer, getting invited to the show is a big deal.
Nengajo: The New Year's Greeting Cards
Similar to most Western countries, Japan has a tradition of exchanging greeting cards during the holidays. The New Year’s greeting cards are called Nengajo. They serve to communicate well wishes, express gratitude, and keep in touch with friends and family. Nenga-hagaki is the name for the postcard version of these cards. Contrary to what many might think, the practice of giving out written greetings is not an imported tradition. In fact, the Japanese nobility have been doing it since the Heian period (794-1185).
New Year Decorations: Kadomatsu and Shimekazari
The Japanese New Year features all kinds of homemade decorations using materials like bamboo, pine, and even a special type of rice cake. Let's get into the different types of New Year decorations in traditional Japanese culture.
Kadomatsu: These are typically placed in pairs at the front of homes and commercial buildings. They are made with pine and bamboo. A pair of kadomatsu represent male and female genders.
Shimekazari: This traditional New Year decoration is a combination of pine, bitter orange, amulets, and other adornments. Japanese people hang them above doors, where they ward off evil and bring good luck.
Kagami mochi: This decoration consists of two round mochi (rice cakes) of different sizes stacked on top of each other, and topped with a bitter orange. The smaller mochi is typically placed atop the larger one. Kagami mochi symbolizes joy and good fortune.
A Time of Renewal and Joy: Embracing Japan's New Year Traditions
In Japan, the New Year is more than a chance to celebrate and reconnect with old friends. It's also a time of reflection and renewal. Explore the rich traditions we mentioned and more by visiting Japan or celebrating in Japanese communities near you. You can also keep in touch with the latest trends in Japanese snacking culture by getting a Bokksu Snack Box Subscription. It will entitle you to a box of curated snacks from Japan every month.
Author Bio
More from the blog
View all
