Japanese Culture
About Japanese events and celebrations in January and February.
January Mutsuki
Hatsumode はつもで
Hatsumode is the first visit to the temples or shrines for the New Year. There are amulets and charms called o-mamori that can be bought, and the old ones from the last year are burned at the shrine. It is normal for Japanese people to go to the shrines on the first three days, and in all of those days, they are overcrowded. It is a time to pray and worship the gods.
Shin-nen Ippan Sanga しんーべｎ－いっぱんーさんが
This is the new year’s greetings to the Imperial Family, where crowds flock to the Imperial Palace to offer their New Year’s Wishes.
Ganjitsu がんじつ
New Year’s Day is called Ganjitsu in Japan. For the first three days, it is a custom to prepare special dishes called o-sechi-ryori before the day, so all the food must be preserved. Little cooking is required during these days, and each of these dishes represents a wish for the family.
O-sechi-ryori おーせちーりいり
O-sechi-ryori is the special meal that is eaten on New Year’s, which is prepared in advance, so little cooking is needed in the following days.
Seijin no hi せいじんーしき
Literally, this means Day of Adults, and a ceremony called ‘Seijin Shiki’ is held on the same day. It is for the people who are turning into adults, which is the age of twenty. All those who reach this age are entitled to drink, smoke and gain the right to vote.
February Kisaragi
Satsuporo yuki matsuri さっぽろーゆきーまつり
This is also known as the Sapporo Snow Festival, and held annually in Sapporo for seven days. It is a festival where they show ice sculptures that people have created , including giant mazes completely made of ice and long ice slides.
Setsubun せつぶん
Setsubun is the day before the start of a new season, mostly celebrated on the 3rd of February because it is the day before Spring begins. Japanese people flock to the shrines to worship the gods and pray for a good following year. Mammemaki, is a ritual which is performed during Setsubun, and people toss roasted beans out the door at a family member wearing a demon mask, saying “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” which means “Demons out, luck in!”
Ema えま
These are small wooden plaques where Japanese leave their wishes and leave them at a shrine, where the gods supposedly read them. The image of the plaque would usually be a horse, because えまmeans ‘Horse Picture’. Horses used to be a sign of wealth and were exchanged for blessings at shrines.
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