In Japan, the New Year is the most important holiday. People will say “ake-mashite-omedetou-gozaimasu” (which means “Happy New Year”) every time they see the New Year for the first time. Events are widely celebrated and enjoyed, most businesses are closed Jan 1-3, excluding some retailers. Many people who have moved to the big cities will return home for the holidays to be with family and friends. Since most businesses close the first three days of the New Year, the streets tend to be very quiet, except those near temples and shrines.
Before the new year, the Japanese usually have bonenkai party that was held between office colleagues and bosses. The word “bonenkai” means “forget-me-not party.” The party is meant to forget the unpleasant memories of the past year and also to welcome the New Year. At the party, the bosses often say that all their things Breiko (It means forgetting your position and being rude!)
Omisoka It is the day of New Years Eve and is the second most important day of the year in Japan. The Japanese are very busy with omisoka because they need to clean the house (called bearji) to get rid of the dirt of the past year. Everything must be cleaned before New Year’s Day. The newly cleaned house is adorned with certain auspicious images such as kadomatsu and shimekazari. After cleaning, the Japanese will have the biggest dinner of the year.
At the end of the day, usually around 11pm, it is very common to have toshikoshiudon gold toshikoshisoba, a kind of Japanese noodles. Long noodles are eaten to symbolize long life. Joya is New Year’s Eve night. Shortly before midnight, temples and shrines across Japan ring their massive bells 108 times, a precautionary measure meant to chase away the sins of the previous year and ensure a fresh start.
Japanese New Year celebration (called shogatsu in Japanese) takes place from January 1 to 3, the first day of the New Year is called glove and it is a national day in Japan. Families often get together to spend the days together. During shogatsu, people will eat special dishes called osechi ryori It is packed in a Jubako box and has several layers. Each dish has a particular meaning. For instance, Kuromame (sweet black beans) for health, prawns for long life, Kurikinton (chestnuts and sweet potato puree) for happiness, tazukuri (terriyaki tastes small sardines) for a good harvest, kazunuko (herring roe) for fertility, etc. It is also traditional to eat mochi (rice cake) dishes during the New Year holidays. The most popular mochi dish is zouni (rice cake soup). But of course the ingredients vary by region and family.
There is a custom of giving money to children during these holidays (it is called otoshidama). It would be a good idea if you prepare some money in small decorative envelopes if you are going to attend family gatherings. On the first day of the New Year, the Japanese often visit a temple or shrine to pray for safety, good fortune, and health. This first visit to a shrine or temple is called Hatsumoude in Japanese (which means “first visit”) and is one of the most important rituals of the year.