Yokoso! Japan: Japanese New Year day (Oshogatsu

Apr 30, 2010

Japanese New Year day (Oshogatsu - お正月)

3:03 PM |

Posted by Chiaki |

New Year or Oshogatsu /Shogatsu (お正月）is the important day in Japan. Throughout the period of Japanese New Year, Dec 29 - Jan 4, there are many traditions that related with Japanese’s New Year.

Before New Year

Most people start to prepare a lot of thing for New Year. For example :- Decoration home, when you walk though the street, you will see many Japanese house is decorated with ornaments which made from pine, bamboo and plum trees. The combination set of this decoration is called “Kadomatsu

Preparing to make Mochi for the New Year
Cleaning their house both inside and outside to make home pure
Sending New Year card

New Year Eve (Dec 31)

The Buddhist temples throughout Japan toll a bell 108 times on New Year's Eve. This is called “Jyoyanokane” and it starts just before midnight. Many people visit a temple for “Jyoyanokane” , then stay there for the New Year prayer called “Hatsumoude”. But some people stay at their home and enjoy to eat Toshikoshi Soba (buckwheat noodles) and watch television programs. A more recent custom is watching the music show "kohaku uta gassen" which on-aired by NHK, a highly popular television program featuring many of Japan's most famous J-pop and Enka singers in spectacular performances.

New Year Day (Jan 1)

Starting this day by viewing the first-sunrise of the year (New Year’s first sunrise is called “Hatsu-hinode”) is the best. So, this day is supposed to be full of joy and free of stress and anger, while everything should be clean and no work should be done.

The biggest activity of this day is visiting a shrine or temple (Hatsumoude). So, temples and shrines are crowded with visitors.

There are special New Year’s food consisted of many different dishes which is called “Osechi Ryouri”. Each dish has a meaning such as wishing for happiness.