During the New Year, a special selection of dishes called osechi is eaten. Many of the food items in these dishes represent prosperity, good fortune and health. A soup called ozoni, consisting of miso, glutinous rice dumplings and vegetables is made for the holiday, too. More popular foods are knotted boiled kelp, fish cakes, mashed sweet potatoes with chestnuts, simmered burdoek root, and sweetened black soybeans. Sashami and Sushi are also enjoyed, as well as some non-Japanese food. Many of these meals are sweet, sour or dried so they can be kept without refrigeration. On the seventh day of January a seven herb-rice soup is made, to let the over worked stomach rest. If you're into munching out during the holidays, Japan is defiantly the place to be.

In Japanese culture, it is a custom to send postcards for the New Year to friends and relatives. The original purpose of these traditional cards is to give far away friends and relatives tidings of yourself and of your immediate family. They are sent so they arrive on the first of January, no sooner or later. But it is customary not to send a card if one has had a death in the family that year. In this case, a simple postcard is sent instead, to show respect for the deceased. Cards have always been a good way to the spread holiday cheer, from here in Canada all the way to Japan.

A holiday just isn't a holiday without fun and games. Although some of these games are less popular than they used to be, Japan has not completely forgotten. Young children, and even some adults indulge themselves in a good game of Hanetsuki, which is Japanese badminton. Takoage is kite flying, and karuta is a type of card game. Both of these games bring smiles to the faces of many people celebrating. A spinning top, called a Koma, is also used for fun. But the most traditional game of all is Fuku warai. In this game, a blind folded person is given paper cut outs of facial features. They have to try to put them all on a paper cut out head. It is sort of like the Japanese version of the North American game called Pin The Tail On The Donkey. Without games, the New Years just wouldn't be the same.

Celebrating the New Year includes paying attention to the first time something is done in a new year. Many Japanese people will drive to the coast or climb a mountain on January first so they can see the Hatsuhinode, which is the first sunrise. Hatsumode is the first trip made to a temple or shrine, and is usually done just after midnight on January first. If the weather is good, a lot of people will wear their kimonos to the shrines. Other firsts that are important to the Japanese are Shigoto-hajime (first work of the new year), keikp-hajime (first practice of the new year), and hatsu-yume (first dream of the new year). To the Japanese, the firsts of a new year are very important and are rarely ever missed out on.

Overall, the Japanese New Year is a festive celebration. Traditions are important, and they show this while they celebrate. Foods, postcards, games, and special firsts are customs that will be rejoiced for years to come. In my opinion, the best time to travel to Japan would be during Shogatsu. A little bit of culture never hurt anyone.