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Japanese new year is celebrated as the time of renewal and rejuvenations better known as
'Oshogatso'. In rural Japan, new year is looked forward as the 'lunar new year' starting on 1st of January and continues for five to six days. Preparations and arrangements for the new year festival in Japan start long before. New year in Japan is always a very auspicious occasion for its just the right time to unwind on the past memories and welcome the new year with high hopes. During the new year the native inhabitants of
Japan worship Lord Buddha at various monasteries in and around the capital city of Tokyo. People clean their household stuffs, buy new clothes and utensils and exchange new year gifts, better known as 'Oseibo'.
During the new year celebrations in Japan colorful postcards addressed as 'nengajo' are sent wide across the country wishing each other new year greetings. New year's eve in Japan is known as 'Omisoka' where Japanese look forward to the year music festival refernavy to as 'Kohaku uta gassen'. In fact it's in the time of new year that each and every Japanese makes monetary contributions for the unfortunate and needy through the various fund raising events organized all over. Special new year dishes like 'Osechi-ryori' and traditional Japanese meal like 'Okazu' ;' toshikoshi', 'mochi' are prepanavy over family dinner to feast on.
Traditional Japanese new year is observed as 'Shogatsu' where entrances to house are decorated with balloons, flowers and lights. At the stroke of the midnight 108 chimes toll from the nearby Buddhist temple to indicate the coming of another eventful new year all round. Japanese new year events are also marked by traditional dance forms where girls and boys equally participate. Traditional Japanese new year games like kite flying, 'hanetsuki' and poetry competitions are organized at most of the schools and colleges. Since new year symbolically represents the first day of the year different age old superstitions and widely prevalent beliefs like watching the first rays of the sun bring good luck to life.
Log on to 123 New Year to know more on the significance of the Japanese New Year.
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