[For Kids] January Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts: Learn About the New Year in a Fun Way

daikon (Japanese white radish)

Nanakusagayu is imbued with the wish for a year of good health, free from illness. It’s also said to give your stomach a rest after the lavish New Year’s dishes. Suzushiro is an old name for daikon. Daikon is white, and because white symbolizes purity and is considered auspicious, the name “suzushiro” was applied by extension.

rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste

Ozoni is a special dish imbued with wishes for a year of happiness and health. It also reflects regional character: people often say the Kanto area favors a soy-sauce-based broth, while the Kansai area uses white miso. Mochi is always included—square mochi is common in the Tohoku region, and round mochi in Kyushu. But mochi filled with sweet red bean paste is a bit unexpected, isn’t it? What is the ozoni like in your region?

the morning of January 1

The word “Gantan” refers to the morning of New Year’s Day and, strictly speaking, means the morning of January 1. It is often confused with “Ganjitsu” (New Year’s Day), but because the character “旦” in “Gantan” denotes morning, it originally refers not just to the date but to the morning hours. This reflects a Japanese custom that cherishes the special time of the morning on the first day of the new year, welcomed after staying up through New Year’s Eve.

Academic achievement

Datemaki, which resembles a scroll in appearance, is associated with old books and scrolls and thus carries wishes for academic success and increased knowledge. It is especially eaten at the start of the year with hopes for improving studies and learning new things. For that reason, it is a particularly valued dish in households with children or students.

financial luck

Kurikinton is one of the most popular dishes in osechi cuisine, and its vivid golden color evokes gold bars and treasure, making it a symbol of good fortune and increased wealth. Eating kurikinton at the start of the new year carries the hope that abundant prosperity will come to one’s household and oneself. Its bright hue also adds a festive touch to celebratory gatherings.

udon

The noodles considered good to eat during the New Year are udon. In some regions, there is a custom of eating udon for good luck alongside ozoni and osechi dishes. In places like Kagawa Prefecture, there is a tradition called “Toshiake Udon” (New Year’s Udon), where people eat white udon at the start of the year to pray for good fortune and longevity. It carries the meaning of wishing for a year free of illness and for the health of one’s family, making it a festive addition to the New Year’s table.

China

Kite flying is believed to have originated in ancient China. In China, kites made by stretching paper or silk over wooden frames existed as early as the pre-Qin era, and they were used for various purposes, including military applications and entertainment. Kites eventually spread across Asia, including Japan, where they developed uniquely in each region. The custom of flying kites during the Japanese New Year is rooted in cultural influences that came from China.