In Japan, hatsuyume is literally the first dream you have after December 31st and is said to predict your fortune for the coming year. Traditionally, lucky dreams involve Mt. Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant, in that order. The combination looks a bit peculiar, but each element is a homonym for positive words in Japanese….
The Nengajo Postcards: How Japanese People Send Their Best Wishes
Japanese people exchange nengajo postcards as New Year greetings, much like Western people sending Christmas cards to each other. Nengajo and New Year Greetings in Japan In Japan, it was a long-established custom to personally present your greetings to people who had helped you and to your superiors at the beginning of the year. They…
The Japanese Traditions For Year-End and New Year’s Holidays
The New Year, called “O-Shogatsu” in Japanese, is a traditionally very important holiday for Japanese people. In ancient times, January used to be early spring according to the lunar calendar. It was the season when everything started flourishing again. Like in many other cultures, people gathered and wished each other a prosperous year. Today’s Japanese…
The Kadomatsu Decoration, Traditional of the Japanese New Year’s Holiday
Kadomatsu is a decoration with three cut pieces of bamboo and pine for the Japanese New Year’s holiday. After Christmas, you will see this decoration at the entrances of houses and buildings in Japan. The Role of Kadomatsu Decorations Kadomatsu is the landmark for the Shinto deity Toshigami-sama to enter your home. In Japan, it is believed…
Kagami Mochi, the Japanese New Year Cake
During the New Year period in Japan, you can see kagami mochi displayed as a decoration inside houses. It is a cake usually made of two layers of round mochi (rice cake) topped with a mandarin orange. Kagami Mochi As a Symbol “Kagami” means “mirror” in Japanese, and it is often said that the shape of the mochi…
Namahage: Should You Really Be Afraid Of These Japanese Demons?
Yoshitaka Kobayashi (far right on the picture above) is the creator of Namahage Satokagura. They are a group whose performances mix traditional drums, dance, and embodying traditional Japanese spirits. They perform in Japan, but also have made appearances in other countries such as France and Taiwan. In this interview, Mr. Kobayashi tells us about keeping…