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Oshogatsu (New Year) |
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In-Focus Portfolio 2002 ►
Japanese New Year's Customs |
The one holiday that most closely touches the heart of the Japanese would
be "Oshogatsu" (New Year). Preparations for shogatsu begin a day or two before January 1st with "osoji"
(cleaning up the house and business from top to bottom) and preparing the special holiday meal called "osechi
ryori" which will be enjoyed for the first three days of the New Year. Businesses are shut down from January
1st through the 3rd and many people return to their home town or leave the country for a vacation. More importantly,
Oshogatsu is a time of spiritual renewal embodied with hope for a better year to come. It is customary to visit
the shrine, buy an "omikuji" (fortune) and pray for happiness and prosperity.
Oshogatsu actually stretches about half-way into the month of January. There are numerous events and festivals
all over the country designed to bring good fortune to business and agriculture as well as invite good spirits
into the home (while getting rid of the evil ones).
Glossary of New Year's terms:
Chona Hajime: Ceremony for carpenters who build temples and shrines.
Fukuzasa: Bamboo branch with decorations placed in the home for good luck.
Hadaka Odori: Naked men (wearing only a loin cloth) compete with each other for good fortune.
Hatsumode: Visiting the shrine from January 1st through January 7th.
Hinawa: Burning rope used for Okeri Mairi on December 31st.
Joyanokane: Ringing the temple bell 108 times at midnight on December 31st.
Kadomatsu: Pine, plum and bamboo decoration placed each side of the doorway.
Kagamimochi: Stacked rice cakes with a mikan and sometimes dried persimmons on top.
Karuta Hajime: Card game played by women in Heian-period costumes.
Kemari Hajime: Soccer game played by Shinto priests.
Okeri Mairi: Visiting the shrine at night on December 31st and taking home a burning rope.
Omikuji: Paper fortune purchased at a shrine (either good or bad luck).
Omisoka: Visiting the shrine in the evening on December 31st.
Seijin-no-hi: Coming of Age Day, a National Holiday for 20-year-olds, around the 15th of January.
Shimenawa: Straw decoration put above one's doorway or on the front of one's car.
Shinnen Kakizome: Children doing calligraphy for the first time in the year.
Oshogatsu: New Years (January 1st, 2nd and 3rd).
Toka Ebisu: Visiting the Ebisu shrine on the 10th of January to get your fukuzasa. |
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Midnight Shrine Visit
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"Okeri Mairi" Burning Rope
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"Joya-no-kane" 108 Bells
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"Hatsumode" First Shrine Visit
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New Year's "Omikuji" Fortune
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New Year's Kimono
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Choosing "Omikuji" Fortune
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Good Luck Arrows
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Writing Wish on "Ema" Tablet
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New Year's Noh Play
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Shinnen Kakizome Calligraphy
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Chona Hajime Temple Carpenters
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20-Year-Old Girls in Kimono
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Praying for Good Luck in Year
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Keeping Warm at Shrine
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Safety While Driving
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Karuta Hajime Game
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"Shimenawa" Decoration
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Making "Mochi" Rice Cake
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"Kadomatsu" Decorations at Entry
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Kemari Hajime Ball Game
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Making "Mochi" Rice Cakes
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Kagami Mochi Offering
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Boiling Water Blessing
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Doorway Decoration
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Toka Ebisu Decorations
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"Fukuzasa" Bamboo Branch
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Decorating "Fukuzasa" Branch
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Coming of Age Day
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New Year's Donations
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"Toshiya" Archery Exhibition
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Last Year's Decorations
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"Kadomatsu" Decoration
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Doya-doya Naked Dance
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Nishi Ichinobe Hadaka Matsuri
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Children's Hadaka Odori
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