Japanese New Year

The Japanese New Year, or Oshogatsu, used to follow the lunar calendar in the same way as many other Asian countries still do today, including China, Korea and Vietnam.

Originally, the celebration took place in early Spring. The exact date would change from year to year according to the cycles of the moon, however, since 1873, Japan has adopted the Western Gregorian calendar. Although the rituals and ceremonies haven't changed, Oshogatsu is now celebrated on January 1st.

Japanese New Year Decorations

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During Japanese New Year you will see many houses and shops with bamboo and pine decorations, called kadomatsu, on either side of the doorways and entrances to buildings.

Ropes with white, zig zag streamers, usually only to be seen in temple or shrine grounds, are also strung across doorways.

Oshogatsu is a very special time in Japan. New Year means a chance for new beginnings and the pine and bamboo represent the shared wish that this year be strong, resilient, and full of life.

New Year decorations are put in place a few days before the celebrations start and stay on display for 14 days.

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Japanese Ceremony and Symbolism

japanese-decoration-for-new-year

In the period leading up to the New Year, housewives will be seen frantically cleaning their homes in readiness for the celebrations.

Once Oshogatsu has started on December 31st, Japanese New Years Eve, all cleaning activities, along with cooking, will cease for the duration of the holiday period.

This is particularly important to the Japanese as the New Year constitutes all that is new and nothing should remain from the previous 12 months.

Just as cleanliness is key, so is the gathering of family. People will travel miles, as they do for Golden Week and Obon, in order to spend this time with their loved ones.

Hatsu-hinode is the first sunrise of the new year. Many households will be up and about for this particular first, on January 1st.

In truth, the first of anything that happens in the New Year is extremely important as it is thought to signify how the rest of the year will turn out.

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Traditions For Children At New Year

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Otoshidama is the lucky preserve of Japanese children.

On January 1st, the official date of Japanese New Year, children will receive envelopes containing varying amounts of cash from grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and more.

It's interesting, having worked with Japanese children, to hear them planning how they will spend their otoshidama money. Although some will fritter it on meaningless items, many talk of saving and putting it into their bank accounts. I love that the Japanese children I have taught are raised to use their Tokyo money wisely from a very young age.

An interesting historical fact associated with Oshogatsu is the way it was originally used to establish the age of children.

When the New Year used to occur in Spring in accordance with the lunar calendar, a child born in December, for example, would have 1 year added to their age every New Year. In this case the child would now be 2 years old.

Want some more historical facts about Tokyo and Japan? See our Tokyo history section for more historical facts.

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Traditional New Year Food

Throughout the period of Japanese New Year, Dec 29 - Jan 4, it's traditional for families to eat a special type of food called osechi-ryori.

Check here for more information about this food and other activities that occur throughout Oshogatsu, December 29 - January 4.

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