Fun facts you’ll want to share! January trivia and tidbits special

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I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

There are surprisingly many things about New Year’s customs and January-only traditions that we think we know but actually don’t.

From the wishes embedded in osechi cuisine and the true identity of the fruit placed atop kagami mochi, to things you shouldn’t do during the New Year period, January is full of trivia and fun facts that can liven up conversation.

In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of general-interest trivia and tidbits related to January.

Why not bring them up as topics during family gatherings with relatives over the New Year?

Fun facts you’ll want to share! January Trivia & Tidbits (1–10)

The “pochi” in pochettes (pochibukuro) comes from the “pochi” in “koreppochi,” meaning “just a little.”

Pochibukuro, which are mainly used to put money in, are strongly associated with giving New Year’s gift money to children.

The word “pochi” in pochibukuro comes from a Kansai dialect term that conveys the idea of “just a little” or “a tiny bit.” It doesn’t refer to the actual amount inside; rather, it expresses a humble sentiment—“it’s only a little, but…” It also reflects the notion that handing over cash bare is impolite.

In that small envelope, you can feel a distilled sense of distinctly Japanese culture.

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Kite flying was prohibited during the Edo period.

Kite flying is a classic pastime during the New Year season, evoking a peaceful image of guiding a kite to ride the wind.

It’s said that there were periods in the Edo era when kite flying was prohibited.

The reason was that it became so popular among commoners—and people got so heated about it—that it sometimes led to fights among adults, prompting a ban.

Considering that the original name ikanobori (“squid climbing”) was banned and people started calling it tako (“octopus”) to get around the prohibition, you could say this shift was significant and connects to how we refer to it today.

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What you put on top of a kagami mochi isn’t a mandarin orange, but a “daidai.”

Kagami-mochi is an essential New Year’s decoration, and the orange placed on top of the rice cakes gives it a strikingly festive look.

While mandarins are sometimes placed on kagami-mochi, it is traditionally correct to place a ‘daidai.’ What matters is what kind of fruit the daidai is: because it grows large without falling from the tree, it carries the wish that a family will prosper “from generation to generation.” Mandarins are often used as a substitute because they look similar and are easy to obtain, but it’s important to understand the original meaning behind the custom.

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You must not clean during the New Year

Although major housecleaning is something to be finished before welcoming the New Year, some people may be too busy and end up carrying it over into the next year.

However, postponing cleaning into the following year or cleaning during the New Year holidays is considered inauspicious.

The main reasons are that cleaning may drive away the Toshigami (New Year’s deity) or the god of good fortune, and that using water for cleaning prevents the water deity from resting.

On the premise that everything should be completed before the year turns, it might even be important to give up on cleaning if you feel you won’t finish in time.

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The shape of the mochi used in ozoni differs between eastern and western Japan.

Ozoni is an indispensable part of New Year’s celebrations, and it’s interesting how the seasoning varies by region.

It’s also said that the shape of the mochi that always goes into ozoni differs between western and eastern Japan.

In eastern Japan, square mochi is used, while in western Japan, round mochi is typical—but the exact boundary between the two is somewhat unclear, which is another fun point.

Focusing on aspects like which type spread earlier, how they’re prepared, and other mochi-related details might lead to new discoveries.

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