Let's get excited with a New Year quiz! General questions about the Japanese New Year

Keyboard playerSAKI
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!”
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

How much do you know about New Year’s in Japan? Even customs we repeat every year without much thought can be surprising once you learn their background—you’ll find yourself thinking, “So that’s what it means!” In this article, we present general knowledge and trivia about the New Year in a quiz format! It’s packed with facts you might think you know but don’t, such as the meaning of otoshidama envelopes, the sentiments behind osechi cuisine and traditional New Year’s games, and things you shouldn’t do during the New Year period.

Try it out and have fun with family and relatives when you gather together!

Let's get excited with a New Year quiz! General questions about Japanese New Year (1–10)

What household chores should you avoid doing during the New Year holidays?

weeding
Organization and tidiness
Cleaning

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Cleaning

It is believed that cleaning during the New Year will sweep away the good fortune brought by the Toshigami, the deity of the year welcomed by family and relatives. It’s best to avoid not only cleaning but also water-related chores like doing laundry and tasks that use fire. This custom conveys the importance of spending the New Year quietly and at ease.

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Until when should I go for the first shrine visit of the year?

until January 3
January 7 or 15
January 20

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January 7 or 15

Generally, it’s considered best to go during the period when New Year’s decorations are displayed. This period varies by region: until January 7 in the Kanto region and until January 15 in the Kansai region. It’s helpful to remember that hatsumode is meant to be done during the “Matsu-no-uchi” period, when the Toshigami (New Year deity) is believed to be present.

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What day’s dream is considered the first dream of the year?

From the night of December 31 to January 1
From the night of January 1 to January 2
From the night of January 2 to January 3

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From the night of January 1 to January 2

The first dream you have after welcoming the New Year is called hatsuyume. Generally, it refers to the dream you see on the night of January 1st into the morning of January 2nd, and it’s said to be related to the custom of staying up through New Year’s Eve until the morning of January 1st. It’s considered auspicious to dream of “ichi Fuji, ni taka, san nasu” — first Mount Fuji, second a hawk, and third an eggplant.

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mutō

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What was traditionally given as New Year’s gifts instead of money in the past?

mandarin orange
rice cake (mochi)
amulet

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rice cake (mochi)

Otoshidama is said to have originated from the custom of sharing with family members and children, at the start of the year, rice cakes that were originally offerings to the Toshigami (the New Year deity). By dividing and sharing the mochi, which was believed to be imbued with the deity’s spirit, people expressed wishes for a year of health and happiness. Over time, the custom shifted from giving mochi to giving money, becoming the modern otoshidama.

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moko

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Which New Year’s game was banned during the Edo period?

kite flying
karuta (traditional Japanese card game)
Battledore and shuttlecock

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kite flying

During the Edo period, there was a time when kite flying was banned. This was because the growing number of people flying kites led to frequent accidents, such as injuries to passersby caused by kite strings and kites getting entangled with houses or power lines. Social issues were also noted, including people becoming so absorbed in play that they neglected work or study, and kite flying becoming a form of gambling. For these reasons, especially in the densely populated city of Edo, the shogunate prohibited kite flying.

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moko

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