New Year’s Eve - Omisoka (大晦日) Omisoka is the Japanese expression for New Year’s Eve. In order to start off the new year with a fresh mind, families and kids come together to clean up the entire house (called osoji - big cleaning) and use the last few days of the old year to make preparations for osechi ryori (see below), special Ōmisoka (大晦日) or ōtsugomori (大晦) is a Japanese traditional celebration on the last day of the year. Traditionally, it was held on the final day of the 12th lunar month. With Japan's switch to using the Gregorian calendar at the beginning of the Meiji era, it is now used on New Year's Eve to celebrate the new year. Trench the forks and embrace the slurp! Toshikoshi Soba, Japan’s New Year’s Eve noodle ritual, is more than just a midnight chew. These long, cold buckwheat strands symbolise longevity and are ways to sever ties with the past year with each slurp stretching out a year of smiles and good fortune. Unlike many other countries, where the last night of the year is seen as an occasion to do something special and grand, the majority of Japanese prefer to stay quiet at home. The evening of New Year's Eve (omisoka, 大晦日) is usually spent with the family, eating together and watching TV. The New Year period in Japan, known as “Oshogatsu,” is a unique time when tradition and modernity blend. Here’s a guide to help travelers make the most of this fascinating season. New Year’s Eve (Omisoka) Joya no Kane (New Year’s Eve Bell Ringing) On New Year’s Eve, many temples ring their bells 108 times, a [] At New Year' Eve or Ōmisoka 大晦日, families gather and eat toshikoshi soba 年越しそば (literally "year-crossing buckwheat noodles"), a dish that simobolizes longevity. A TV music special known as Kōhaku Uta Gassen 紅白歌合戦 is watched. This TV show reunites J-Pop and enka singers to give awesome performances. On New Year’s Eve, people stay up late during “toshikoshi” and greet the first sunrise, “hatsu-hinode.” Greetings like “Akemashite Omedetou” and “Nengajou” cards foster connections. These traditions highlight the significance of family, spirituality, and renewal. On New Year's eve, toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles), symbolizing longevity, are served. A more recent custom is watching the music show "kohaku uta gassen", a highly popular television program featuring many of Japan's most famous J-pop and enka singers in spectacular performances. New Year’s celebrations in Japan are filled with tradition. These traditions begin during the initial build-up to New Year’s Eve and through into New Year’s Day. Here we’ll explain some of Japan’s New Year traditions, beginning with those that take place in the run-up to New Year’s Day. The Japanese New Year celebration is called shogatsu, and New Year’s Day is called gantan. Japan has celebrated New Year’s Day on 1 January since it adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1873. Before that, the country celebrated New Year based on the timing of lunar cycles. What is New Years eve in Japan called? In Japanese, New Years eve is called “大晦日” (Ōmisoka). “晦日” (Misoka) refers to the last day of the month and since it’s a big deal swapping years it gets a “大” (long o sound, “big”) on the front. You will also see events for New years eve in Japan simply referred to as “New The Lunar New Year varies and takes a little calculating. One lunar year, or 12 full cycles of the moon, is roughly 354 days. Chinese Lunar New Year is the most popular and begins at sunset on the Sunrise in Japan (Photo: The View from the Very Peak of Mt. Fuji – buck82 / CC BY-NC 2.0) At Home. Japan usually goes crazy on New Year's Eve (omisoka) with seasonal TV programming throughout the night into the early hours. In Japan, December 31st is the last day of the year and is called “Omisoka”which is New Year’s Eve. “In Japan, it is customary to prepare for New Year’s Eve and thank you for finishing the year safely. Every year in December, there are many events for cleaning up and finishing and busy days continue. The final of the Emperor's Cup, the national association football elimination tournament in New Year's Day. The final has taken place on New Year's Day since 1969 and is usually aired on NHK. Mixed martial arts in Japan organizations such as Pride FC and Dream have held events on New Year's Eve and Rizin Fighting Federation has held New Year's 1. Cleaning, Decorating and Cooking Begin Days in Advance. One of the first things that come to mind for the Japanese once December comes is osouji.This is similar to "spring cleaning" in the West, when we take a little more time to clean every nook and cranny to make the whole house spic and span. Buckwheat noodles or toshikoshi soba have various toppings and are eaten on new year’s eve or ōmisoka. Another dish that symbolizes longevity! Toshikoshi (年越し / としこし) literally means ‘new year’s eve’, so the noodles are called ‘year-crossing noodles’. Otoso (お屠蘇) No New Year would be complete without drinks! New Year’s greetings. Finally, it wouldn’t be New Year’s without the greeting! In Japanese, there are two distinct ways to give New Year’s greetings. Before December 31, you say: Yoi otoshi o (pronounced yo-i-o-toshi-o)良いお年を. To be polite, you say: Yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai よいお年をお迎え下さい。 New Year’s Eve in Japan is known as ōmisoka. In the last moments of December 31, temple bells ring out across the nation to signal the end of one year and the start of the next. The Japanese usually celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day with family, as the holiday is equivalent to American Thanksgiving or Christmas. Each family has a different tradition for New Year’s Eve dinner, but the popular menus include Sushi, sashimi, and Hot Pot such as Sukiyaki (above), Yosenabe, and Shabu shabu (below). In some
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