The New Year is the most special event of the year for Japanese. During the New Year’s Days, most of Japanese people believe that God of the Year (Toshigami-sama) is descending on each home. People wished to welcome the god with pure mind and to receive power.
The main of ceremonies in a New Year are :
Hatsumode : New Year’s first visit to a shrine to pray.
Kakizome : The first calligraphy of New Year. People write auspicious words or poems with a brush, wishing the improvement in their writing skill.
Hatsuyume : The first dream on New Year’s Day. People tell their fortunate omen for the year, judging from what they dream.
Nanakusa : on the 7th day, people remove all the new years ornaments and decorative pine branches which have been put up at the gate.
Kagamimochi/osonaemochi : Mochi (rice cake) which is offered to teh god of the year.
Ko-shougatsu : on the 15th day. New year according to lunar calendar. Pople put up events such as dondo-yaki and sagicho, which are the fire festivies to burn New Year’s ornaments.
Source : Japan, How We Breathe & How our Hearts Beat; New Millenium Network Corporation.
Enjoy some pictures describe how Japanese people celebrate the new year (お正月 /o-shougatsu/).
Part 3/3 : nengajou (年賀状), new-year’s postcard greetings, year’s zodiac,the osonaemochi (お供え餅), and the city.
 2010 zodiac |
 for sale : the year of lion |
 osonaemochi |
 Postcards of NewYear's Greeting |
 Traditional culture in a high-tech city |
 modern corner |
Enjoy some pictures describe how Japanese people celebrate the new year (お正月 /o-shougatsu/).
Part 2/3 : New Year’s first praying at a shrine : hatsumoude (初詣で).
 visiting shrine in the beginning of a new year |
 lampion decorations |
 Narande imasu (queuing) |
 hatsumode : praying at shrines on 1-3 January |
 A shinto believer
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 letter of requests to the God
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Enjoy some pictures describe how Japanese people celebrate the new year (お正月 /o-shougatsu/).
Part 1/3 : New Year’s Decoration (お正月飾り) : shime-kazari & others.
 Dried rice grass |
 making (1) |
 making (2) |
 shime-kazari |
 pine (松 /matsu/) for sale |
 newyear's decorations for sale at a shrine |
Here are some unique transportations in Japan. Most people don’t rely on private cars.
 A bike for the elder child, connected to the baby car. One push for two passengers. |
 Ichirinsha, one wheele bike. First - third grade of Japanese elementary students love to ride this. |
 white haired man, white collar worker, students, without cars. |
 A train? Or a bus? usually available in a very wide park. Location : Kodomo no Kuni, Yokohama City. |
The New Year is the most special event of the year for Japanese. During the New Year’s Days, most of Japanese people believe that God of the Year (Toshigami-sama) is descending on each home. People wished to welcome the god with pure mind and to receive power.
