WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: New Years in Japan

By Hank F.Miller Jr.

New Year's is the most significant holiday in Japan. On the morning of January 1, family members exchange formal greetings and have o-toso, or spiced sake, o-zoni soup containing rice cakes, and a variety of special New Year's dishes. Parents give their children o-toshidama, or New Year's money gifts. Then they enjoy reading New Year's greeting postcards which are sent by family members or friends, and are usually delivered around noon.

Quite a few people pay the New Year's first visit to a shrine or temple to pray for coming good fortune.

In years gone by, Japanese children used to often fly beautifully decorated kites and or play battledore and shuttlecock and Japanese card games, but nowadays we don't see kids doing things like that as often as we used to Children today seem to prefer playing soccer and home video games. These traditional customers are disappearing by degrees and that sad to see.

 

A MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

With Warm Regards From Kitakyushu City, Japan

Hank F. Miller Jr & Family