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It is a slightly more traditional and less common way to wish someone a happy new year in spoken Japanese. However, you might see it written on one of the typical Japanese new year cards. Shinnnen, akemashite omedetou gozaimasu 新年、明けましておめでとうございます Happy New Year (from January 1st, traditional) 2. As a guide to how big a job that is, for the 2021 new year, the post office issued 1.94 billion nengajo, and many more self-made new year’s cards will also be sent. For the 2023 new year, according to NHK World, Japan Post has prepared 1.65 billion cards. That compares with a peak of around 3.7 billion cards in 1997. Addressing Cards . When sending New Year's cards from overseas, the word nenga (年賀) should be written in red on the front side along with a stamp and address. This way, the post office will hold the card and deliver it on Jan. 1. Unlike Christmas cards, nengajo shouldn't arrive before New Year's Day. A formal way to say “Happy New Year,” often used in written greetings or 年賀状 ねんがじょう (nengajoo) – Japanese New Year cards. 新年明 しんねんあ けましておめでとうございます (shinnen akemashite omedetoo gozaimasu) A slightly longer and more formal way to say “Happy New Year.” Cultural Notes. Timing That means there’s a second way to say “Happy New Year” in Japanese, right after it becomes a new year. 3. Akemashite omedetou! Have a happy New Year! (after the new year begins) 明けましておめでとう！ あけましておめでとう！ Akemashite omedetou! Nengajō 年賀状: New Year greeting card. Hatsumōde 初詣: first shrine or temple visit of the year. Kagamimochi 鏡餅: decorative rice cake. Otoshidama お年玉: New Year's money gift given to kids. Joya no Kane 除夜の鐘: New Year’s Eve bell ringing. Hatsuyume 初夢: first dream of the year. The Japanese post office promises to deliver the cards on the morning of the first of January if the card is posted within certain deadlines in December. If a person has undergone a sad event, such as a death in the family, that person does not send any New Year's greeting cards that year, but instead posts an apology letter, usually printed in The cost of Nengajo New Year Cards vary depending on whether you are sending it to someone within the country, outside the country and also whether you are buying a blank card or a pre-designed and pre-printed card. Here are some of the approximate costs involved in sending a Nengajo New Year Card: Sending a Nengajo within Japan costs around ¥63. To make sure that your cards are delivered on time (i.e. January 1), Japan Post starts accepting cards marked with the word nenga (年賀, new year’s greetings) from December 15 and keeps them for delivery on New Year’s Day. It highly encourages that you post your cards by December 25 to achieve a January 1 delivery. The post office hires part-time workers to help deliver an estimated two billion cards to households in carefully bound bundles. When nengajo are delivered, it’s an exciting time for families to open their parcel on New Year’s and check out the year’s designs. Most cards will have a version of the upcoming year’s zodiac sign. Say Happy New Year in an international way! The Japanese characters for the New Year greeting are printed in bright white with the words "Happy New Year" in a soft green underneath. This design was created to work on the dark colored shirts and tops, and for non-apparel, it looks amazing on all the dark, bright, and bold colors, so play around! PLEASE NOTE: We have also created this design in The New Year is called oshôgatsu (お正月). There are two ways of saying "Happy New Year": Until December 31: yoi otoshi o (良いお年を) From January 1: shinnen omedetô (gozaimasu) (新年おめでとう (ございます) ); or, akemashite A calligraphic rendering of the Japanese characters for "Happy New Year", or "Gashô" is displayed on a background of stylized fans and leaves in shades of gold, aqua, and pink. Fortunately, Japan offers a cost-effective solution: ‘nengajo,’ or New Year’s greeting cards, which are a traditional and economical way to send festive wishes. Buying your Nengajo. Nengajo are special Japanese New Year’s cards that include postage for domestic mailing. In fact, the Christmas decorations are usually down by afternoon on the 25th to make way for the New Year's ones. :P New year : 明けましておめでとう(ございます) (Happy new year) or something in 年賀状 However, saying "Happy New Year" before the new year requires a different phrase, which is 良いお年を（お迎え In Japan, celebrating the New Year wouldn’t be complete without the tradition of nengajo—greeting cards that convey well-wishes for the year ahead.Every January 1st, millions of Japanese households receive these specially designed cards from friends, family, and colleagues, filled with messages of gratitude and hopes for happiness and health.
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