January Celebration
New Year - Shogatsu
Shogatsu marks the beginning of the new year and is usually celebrated in the first three days of January. Common practices during this holiday are: hatsumode, where people visit shrines or temples to offer prayers for good health, abundance, and happiness; homes filled with symbolic representations kadomatsu (pine and bamboo) to welcome good spirits and kagamimochi (round rice cakes) are displayed on the altar as an offering to god; and lastly the practice of exchanging nengajyo, where everyone is sending out cards to friends and family to express their gratitude for the past year and hoping for a good future.
Coming-of-Age Day - Seijin-no-hi
Celebrated in January, Coming-of-Age Day (Seijin-no-hi) is a special occasion for young adults in Japan, typically celebrated with close friends and family. While traditionally marking the coming of age at 20, a significant change occurred in 2022 when the legal age of adulthood was lowered to 18, making young people reach adulthood at an early age. During this occasion, you can expect to see Japanese women dress elegantly in kimono (Japan’s traditional clothing). As they reach 18 years old, they are to receive several legal rights, which include the right to vote and consume alcohol and tobacco. This day marks a significant milestone, symbolizing their entry into adulthood and the assumption of greater responsibility and independence.
February Celebration
The Eve of the First Day of Spring - Setsubun
Setsubun is a Japanese festival that marks the end of winter and is celebrated around February 3. In this celebration, families gather to participate in a ritual called mamemaki where roasted soybeans are tossed in and out of their home and are believed to cast off evil spirits and invite good ones. Another custom associated with Setsubun is eating eho-maki (a type of sushi roll) while facing a lucky direction. This custom originated in Osaka and spread to the Kanto region and then nationwide, largely due to marketing by convenience stores and supermarkets. Lastly, people also participate in a custom known as niju-sansai where they consume a number of soybeans equal to their age. They believe that doing this will ensure good health and long life.
March Celebration
Doll's Festival - Hina-matsuri
Every March 3, Japan celebrates Hinamatsuri dedicated to the well-being and happiness of young girls. Families with daughters create a gorgeous display of intricately crafted dolls representing the imperial court or hina matsuri. These dolls are clothed with elegant kimonos and accessorized with delicate jewelry and are neatly arranged in tiered platforms with a red felt. Additionally, families usually prepare treats like hina arare, a colorful diamond-shaped rice cracker, and hishi mochi, or rice cakes in three colors, to symbolize the seasons of spring, summer, and autumn. Hinamatsuri is not only a celebration of young girls but also a time to appreciate the beauty of tradition and culture.
Vernal Equinox Day - Shunbun-no-hi
The Vernal Equinox typically falls around March 21st. This day officially marks the start of the Spring, representing a season of renewal and growth. In Japan, this period is also known as Haru no Higan, a seven-day observance that begins three days before the Equinox and ends after three days. During Haru no Higan, many Japanese people visit cemeteries and temples to honor their ancestors. They clean and tend to the gravesites, offering prayers, incense, and flowers as tokens of remembrance. This tradition is deeply rooted in Buddhist beliefs, which emphasize the importance of honoring ancestors. Haru no Higan is a time for appreciating the beauty of nature, reflecting on the past, embracing the present, and looking forward to the future with hope.
Equinoctial Week - Higan
Higan is a solemn period in the Japanese calendar and occurs twice a year: in Spring and in Autumn. In Buddhism, higan refers to the afterlife (a place where souls reside after death). During this period, families visit cemeteries to pay respect to their deceased loved ones, clean their graveyards, and offer prayers for peace. They believe that by paying tribute to their deceased loved ones, they can connect with their ancestors and receive blessings.
May Celebration
Children's Day - Kodomo-no-hi
Celebrated on May 5th, Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) is a day to celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of all children in Japan. Families with children typically decorate their homes with gogatsu-ningyo (samurai dolls) and koi-nobori (colorful carp streamers) to symbolize strength, success, and good fortune. To formally mark the occasion, families usually share traditional foods like chimaki (dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) and kashiwa-mochi (rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves).
July Celebration
The Star Festival - Tanabata
Every July 7 is known as the Tanabata (Star Festival). It's based on a love story of two stars, Orihime and Hikoboshi, who are only allowed to meet once a year on this special day. During Tanabata, people write their wishes on colorful tanzaku (paper strips) and hang them on bamboo branches, hoping that the stars will grant their wishes. Everything is decorated brightly, and cities like Sendai and Hiratsuka are filled with big, colorful, and exciting parades that also attract visitors from other places.
BER months Celebration
Moon Viewing - Tsukimi
Tsukimi is a holiday where the Japanese celebrate the autumn moon. This is commonly celebrated on the 15th of the eight months of the Lunar calendar (old Japanese calendar) or usually falls in September or October. On this day, family and friends gather to admire the moon. Families also usually display dumplings (tsukimi dango), pampas grass (susuki), and seasonal fruits like persimmons and chestnuts. These offerings, along with the act of moon-viewing itself, are believed to bring good fortune and express gratitude for the bountiful harvest.
Autumn Equinox Day - Shubun-no-hi
The Autumn Equinox, usually around September 23rd, marks the day when the hours of daylight and darkness are equal. This event signifies the start of autumn, a season of change and reflection. In Japan, this period is also observed as Higan, a week-long observance centered on the equinox itself. (Please refer to number 6 to know what Higan is.)
Health and Sports Day - Sports-no-hi
On the second Monday of October, the Japanese celebrate Health and Sports Day. This event was created to celebrate the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and encourage everyone to live healthy, active lives. People all over Japan participate in different sports and physical activities, from traditional Japanese sports like judo and kendo to modern sports like soccer and basketball. Schools often large-scale sports festivals featuring track and field, relay races, and other competitions. You may also see families who go on picnics, and hikes, or just have a fun walk outside. This event encourages physical activity, overall well-being, and strengthens community bonds.
New Year's Eve - Omisoka
As another new year is about to begin, the Japanese welcome the New Year with renewal and hope. On the last day of the year, Omisoka is a time to reflect, clean, and prepare. Families engage in a thorough cleaning of their homes, hoping to remove the negative energies and create a fresh and positive atmosphere. As the clock strikes midnight, temple bells ring out 108 times, representing the 108 earthly desires that lead to suffering (Joya no Kane). The sound of the bells fills the air, inviting people to reflect on the past year and leave the negative emotions behind. With each ring of the bell, a sense of purification and renewal washes over the place, and people start to embrace the hope and promise of the New Year.
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