New Years in Japan
It’s that time of year when the leaves start falling, the weather turns cold, and you can’t go outside without layering up.
Whether you’re taking Japanese language classes or self-studying you’re sure to take a break over Christmas and New Year.
New Year traditions differ across the world, in Japan, the New Year is a time to spend with family. People gather at their family home and spend the holidays together, so the trains are fairly packed near the year end!
Vocabulary related to New Year
To keep up even a little bit of study over the break and learn some words that are useful to know for the holidays, try studying some vocabulary from the list below!
Vocabulary related to the New Year🎍
年末年始・ねんまつねんし
This is the New Year’s holiday, encompassing the end of the old year and the beginning of the New Year
お正月・おしょうがつ
New Year’s, unlike 年末年始 this refers only to the New Year
鏡餅・かがみもち
Kagami mochi is two round balls of firm mochi stacked on top of one another (different from the soft, squishy mochi you’ll find in dango or daifuku) with a small mandarin placed on top.
年越し蕎麦・としこしそば
It is a tradition to eat soba on the final night of the year, biting through the noodles symbolizes braking with the old year and the length of the noodles symbolizes longevity.
除夜の鐘・じょやのかね
A traditional ceremony held at temples in which a temple bell is struck 108 times at the end of the year to banish desires accumulated over the past year and welcome the new year with a clean slate.
初詣・はつもうで
First shrine or temple visit of the year. There are often market stalls selling various street foods in and around temples and shrines creating a very festive atmosphere.
お節料理・おせちりょうり
Traditional New Years food. Osechi consists of a variety of different dishes, most of which are traditionally thought to be good luck.
初日の出・はつひので
First sunrise of the year.
あけましておめでとうございます
This means “Happy New Year”, you’ll say it to your friends and colleagues the first time you see them in the New Year.
年賀状・ねんがじょう
Greeting cards are sent to family, friends, and acquaintances before the New Year.
Nowadays they are being replaced by messages on the mobile phones.
We hope that 2022 brings bigger and better things!
Have a good Christmas and New Year!
あけましておめでとうございます！
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