In
Japan, celebrating the New Year is the biggest holiday of the year. Christmas, although a fun holiday in Japan,
is not a national holiday. Businesses
and schools stay open during Christmas day and it is business as usual. However, New Year’s Day in Japan is a
national holiday business and schools are closed—and everyone participates in
ushering in the New Year.
Known
as oshogatsu or “first month”, the
New Year is the traditional winter celebration of Japan. Unlike celebrating the New Year in the West, oshogatsu is celebrated from New
Year’s Eve until January 3. All Japanese businesses and government services are closed until January 3rd
in observance of oshogatsu.
In
the United States, the tradition of New Year’s usually focuses on elaborate New
Year’s Eve parties and/or fireworks, with a boisterous celebratory champagne
toast and/or fireworks at the stroke of midnight to bring in the New Year. Watching the “ball” drop in New York’s Times
Square is also a huge marker of the New Year in the United States. In the United States the actual day of the
New Year, January 1, is the only official national holiday and everyone returns
to work on January 2. In Japan, everyone
is off work from December
31 until January 3.
Western
style New Year’s Eve parties and fireworks are also easy to find in Japan. Many hotels, clubs and other venues host New
Year’s Eve parties. However, most
Japanese celebrate the New Year with family and friends either at home or a
restaurant.
It
is easy to know when it is New Year’s time in Japan because you will see business and homes decorated with kadomatsu
and simekazari . These are holiday decorations made from
bamboo shoots, plum branches and straw. These ornaments are for good luck in the new year, to ward off bad luck and to welcome the gods of good fortune.
Traditionally these ornaments are burned on January 15.
There
are certain foods that Japanese eat to celebrate the new year. Toshikoshi
soba (“year-crossing buckwheat noodes”) are served hot on New Year’s Eve to
symbolize cutting off the past year’s misfortunes and to provide for good luck
and long life in the coming year. On
New Year’s Day ozoni, a flavorful
soup made with mochi, and osechi ryori (other traditional New Year
foods), are served side by side for all to enjoy together.
Aside
from the boom of fireworks at midnight, there is another sound that echoes
throughout Japan on New Year’s Eve: the temple bell. The sounding of the temple or shrine bell
rings out 108 times just prior to midnight.
This ritual is called joya no kane
and signifies the 108 earthy desires that cause human beings suffering in the
Buddhism. In Tokyo, the Zojoji temple near Tokyo tower and
Asakusa’s Sensoji temple are usually
packed to hear the bells.
On
New Year’s Day many Japanese participate in hatsumode
which also takes place at a temple or shrine.
Hatsumode is the first temple
or shrine visit of the New Year.
Japanese can be found in huge numbers on New Year’s Day at a shrine or
temple to pray or wish for prosperity, good health, safety, happiness or
whatever good fortune they wish to have in the New Year.
In
Hawaii, there are New Year celebrations on several islands. Oahu celebrates New Year’s Eve with several
blocks of live performance stages, DJs, street food and street entertainers
along Waikiki. At midnight, Waikiki
lights up the night with a fireworks show to bring in the New Year. Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai also have
similar celebrations on their islands.
Just be sure to shout out a cheerful and hearty “Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!”
or “Happy New Year” to your friends, family and neighbors.
In
Hawaii, if your Japanese lady friend wishes to celebrate Japanese traditions on
New Year’s it is quite easy to make her happy.
You can take her to a restaurant serving toshikoshi soba noodles on New Year’s Eve prior to heading out on
the town. On New Year’s Day you can go
with her to many of the temples in Hawaii for hatsumode pray or wish for the both of you to continue your good
fortune, love and happiness into the New Year.
We
wish you a Happy New Year and the best in 2019!
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Email: info@emclub.jp