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

A wish for layers of good fortune and auspiciousness to overlap

Stacking osechi dishes in layered jubako boxes carries the wish that good fortune and auspiciousness will come in many layers. In traditional Japanese culture, “layering” itself holds meaning, embodying the hope that a family’s happiness and prosperity will continue in multiple layers. For this reason, the practice has been passed down not only for visual beauty and preservation, but as a distinctly Japanese custom that values auspiciousness.

As many times as you like

Omikuji are fortune-telling slips drawn at shrines and temples, and there’s basically no set limit on how many times you can draw one. Even if you don’t like the result you got the first time, drawing again isn’t considered rude. However, it’s generally recommended to avoid drawing repeatedly in quick succession for the sake of good manners. The idea that “you can draw omikuji as many times as you like” exists because there’s no official rule. What’s important is not to get too carried away by the result and to welcome the New Year with a positive mindset.

New Year’s courtesy visits

“New Year’s visits” (toshikoshi/nen-shi mawari) is a traditional Japanese custom of going from house to house during the New Year to greet relatives, acquaintances, and colleagues. It is an important practice for expressing gratitude to those who have helped you and conveying your hopes for continued goodwill in the coming year, and it has been observed across Japan since long ago. This custom also plays a role in strengthening personal connections.

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.

Rentarō Taki

The children’s song “Oshōgatsu” is a famous nursery rhyme that depicts traditional Japanese New Year scenes. It was composed by Rentarō Taki, a composer active from the Meiji to Taishō periods. Taki also created masterpieces such as “Kōjō no Tsuki” and “Hana,” and he had a significant impact on the history of Japanese music. “Oshōgatsu” is loved by people of all ages, from children to adults, and is often sung at schools and at home during the New Year season.