Resources and notes about Japanese New Year!

[mermalaide]

Japan has a lot going on this time of year. The first three days of the year are very busy, to the point where school and a large portion of businesses are closed. Many are spending time with family and friends, being dragged to Bonenkai ('Forget the Year') parties for work, visiting temples, ect. The first is often considered a blank slate and the most auspicious date of the year, so many watch the sun rise and make their wishes for good health, wealth, and prosperity just to name a few for the new year at temples (Hatsumode). 

January 1 (national holiday)

New Year (shogatsu):

This is the most important holiday in Japan. While only January 1 is designated as a national holiday, many businesses remain closed through January 3. 

Second Monday of January (national holiday)

Coming of Age (seijin no hi):

The coming of age of young adults is celebrated on this national holiday. The age of legal adulthood in Japan was lowered from 20 to 18 in 2022.


February 3

Beginning of spring (setsubun):

Setsubun is not a national holiday, but celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide.

Greeting cards are pretty big!




A lot of people tend to give and receive New Year's Nengajo. Generally people get them right on the first. They tend to be about as popular as Christmas cards in the west.  They can get pretty elaborate, yet still say very simple things, as they are pretty small in size. Mostly things that you experienced with your friend or family member and wishes for the next year. 

Food!

Elaborate Bentos, painstakingly made and filled with goodies!


Delicious buckwheat soba~!


So MUCH alcohol, though I hardly think that part of New Year's is unique! But you will have a lot of premium Whiskey, Sake, and Souchu!

You will also see people pounding out Mochizutski for Oshogatsu!



New Year's cleaning!


 Osoji!! Which is the big deep clean of the year! (I need to do more of this myself.) This could take a few hours or days to really deep clean, declutter, and just Marie Kondo the hell out of your home. The premise of this ritual is to not carry any bad habits or garbage into the new year. 

Decorations!
Oshogatsu kazari
So these can get pretty complicated! You will see mochi, oranges, pine, chrysanthemums, plum and pine. People tend to display a lot of decorations in mid to early December.  The rules for these are a bit complicated, so I will post them via a clickable link, if say that is a rabbit hole any of you would like to explore.

One Last Little Note!
One thing that might be interesting thread-wise would be things having to do with Oni because Setubun is one of the three big days. Stuff involving Luck and temples would certainly be something awesome to think about. And, well, if you are a bit of a home body (or maybe a busy celebrity character-wise), there is always the amazing New Year's celebration that NHK and other channels will be putting on, which tend to be variety shows featuring comedians, actors and popstars. Personally, I wouldn't blame anyone wanting to curl up under the kotatsu and have a few treats!