Shogatsu; New Year’s holidays in Japan
Happy New Year!
あけましておめでとうございます。
2018 has come! It is 4 p.m.on New Year’s day in Japan now. Many people spend New Year’s holidays with family in their hometown. Now I’m on the way to my hometown by train. I bought the souvenir for my family before taking a train.
Today I talk about Japanese New Year’s holidays, oshogatsu(お正月).
New year’s first sale
New year’s first sale called “Hatsuuri(初売り)” starts in department stores and shopping malls from January 1st or 2nd. The department stores are crammed with shoppers because of a bargain sale.”Fukubukuro(福袋, a lucky bag )” is very popular, which contains various goods that are much more valuable than the price of the bag.
New Year’s traditional decorations
After Christmas day, the Japanese prepare for New Year soon. There are many New Year’s decorations everywhere in Japan for welcoming kami(Shinto God) celebrated New Year.
↑Kadomatsu
set near the gate
↑Shimenawa
set in the entrance
Some people living in the city do not decorate them. (me too!) But many shops set them.
I go to hometown for the first time in a half-year. I will enjoy spending with my family.
Wishing you a bright and happy New Year!
Japanese OL. (OL means “office lady”. Women who work in offices.)
I was born in a rural part of the Kanto area in the latter half of the 1980s. I live and work in Tokyo now. I live with my husband. I study English by writing this blog!
