The way of celebrating a new year has changed in Japan.
Kimono – きもの – 着物
Before western clothing, the Japanese wore kimonos. They formally dressed in kimonos and visited shrines or temples for the happiness of the new year.
Osechi, Osechi Ryouri – おせち, おせちりょうり – お節, お節料理
A typical Japanese dish to celebrate the new year is called osechi-ryori. It is colorfully assorted in square boxes. Today, we also eat non-Japanese foods.
Mochi – もち – 餅
Mochi is rice cakes made of steamed sticky rice. It is hard and becomes soft, stretchy, and chewy when cooked. When it is in a soup with other ingredients, it is called zouni. There are a lot of variations with local specialties.
Nengajyo – ねんがじょう – 年賀状
The Japanese send New Year’s Day postcards, nengajo, to their friends, relatives, and business counterparts. It is similar to the Western custom of sending Christmas cards. Today, it remains popular, though digital greetings via mobile devices have come to be accepted.