Japan has welcomed New Year on January 1st.
New Year has a special culture and Japan also has variety of them which has been inherited for a long time.
We appreciate to spend the time with our family and hope that we are healthy and happy.

We show you about the culture how we spend the time during New Year in Japan and then, we hope you compare
with your culture.

First, Japanese clean up own house to welcome god into there. We usually do it by December 31st.
Also, all of us in the family will do decorations together on the entrance and Kamidana (a household Shinto altar).
It shows that our house is sacred and play the role of amulet.

We also eat buckwheat called “Toshi-Koshi-Soba” as one of the habit.
“Toshi-Koshi” means that we welcome the new year and it is know for Japanese as lucky food.
We usually welcome New Year while eating it with our family on December 31st.

When the date changed, the bell rings at temple to let us know the New Year.
At the same time, we greet everybody as AKEMASHITE OMEDETO GOZAIMASU.
The mean is Happy New Year and we can welcome the New Year after that.

Were you able to spend the good time for New Year ? I look forward to your continued good will in the coming year !