This is a big event in Japan.

The Japanese send New Year’s cards (nengajo) – to friends, family and colleagues with greetings specific to the different groups of people and often have a picture of the new zodiac animal. I did post a few but they were flimsy postcards so I fear they might not arrive in a recognisable state .. if at all.

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New Year’s Eve is a family time, traditionally gathered around the TV watching the most dire entertainment show, Kohaku, that I have ever viewed. When watching it last year, I thought that the contributors had won a talent show. A talent show in a remote part of the country with very few entrants! But apparently the performers are professionals. However, at 11.45 the programme ends and footage from shrines and temples around Japan is shown. This is delightful. Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the New Year is an important and popular tradition with bookings required for New Year’s Eve at many places.

New Year’s Decorations

All Christmas decorations are removed, and straw wreaths & decorations (shimekazari) appear everywhere – large displays in pots outside businesses and smaller ones on doors. These welcome in Toshigami, the god of New Year. Different components of the display drive away evil and promote longevity. These decorations are removed on Jan 7th when they are burned at a shrine.

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Year of the Tiger

So we have now entered the year of the Tiger – an animal said to represent strength and courage. And here are my ‘tiger’ cakes; eaten by me rather than made by me!

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Happy New Year to all readers of this blog. I wish you a Happy and Healthy 2022 and hope that this is the year than we manage to get on top of Covid. But I hope we will take with us qualities we have gained – patience, resilience and the knowledge of the importance of friends and family.

Last photo of 2021 and the first of 2022

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