What is Oshogatsu?
Oshogatsu is a Japanese traditional holiday during New Year. Each family have their own tradition of what they do during oshogatsu, and this is my family’s tradition.
12/31 8:00 pm-Eat Toshikoshi Soba
12/31 11:45 am-Go to temple for Jyoya no Kane
1/1 7:00 am- Eat Osechi ryori (get some Otoshidama too!)
1/1 10:00 am- Go to shrine for Hatsumoude
Toshi Koshi Soba(年越しそば)
From the survey to my family and relatives, most of them answered this food to the question “What kind of food do you normally eat light before the New Year?” Soba is a type of noodle made from buckwheat. Like Twitty (2017:70) said of “food is an archive”, soba is one of the traditional food that Japanese people used to eat since 400 years ago. At that age, soba is a type of famous restraint chain that people can eat together and drink some sake with this food. Since then, Soba has been an important food in Japan and has been served to people under many different names. Toshikoshi Soba, which means “pass the year soba” is one of it as well. We eat Toshi Koshi soba right before the year change to be superstitious for the next year.
Jyoya no Kane(除夜の鐘)
In Japan, temple always strike the bell call Jyoya no Kane when the day change to December 31st to January 1st. Start at mid night, and traditionally, the bell strikes for 108 times. This number is said to representing “one year”. Very beginning strike is done by monk, but after that ordinally neighbor can make a line for the strike. Which mean, you can strike the bell to cerebrate new year!
Temple is locate in multiple place, but some family, like my family don’t have temple for bell close, however, if there is a temple, like my relative’s house in Tokyo, all neighbor gather and cerebrate new year together. My aunt Sachiyo said “Strike the Jyoya no Kane” is her favorite thing during new year.
Osechi Ryori (おせち料理)
Osechi Ryori is like a coarse meal, just like Kaiseki ryori（type of the meal) in Japan. There are five main types of dishes: “festive snacks”, “appetizers”, “grilled dishes”, “vinegared dishes”, and “simmered dishes”, and each dish has its own meaning and meaning.
For example
・Kuromame(黒豆): This is black beans. It represents “wishing for a healthy life” because “mame” means healthy in Japan.
・Tai no sugata yaki(鯛の姿焼き): Grilled sea bream. In Japan, often times sea bream is an auspicious(めで「たい」/mede’tai’) thing.
・Kobu maki(昆布巻き): Kelp roll that represents good fortune because the word “pleased” in Japanese is “yorokobu(よろこぶ）” and relate kobu.
（Oisix Osechi 2021, 2020)
My parents, relatives, and I are eating this food every time we meet each other during Oshogatsu. “27.How about during and after the New Year, what do you normally eat currently? Ozoni and Osechi food”(Megumi). On the other hand, because Osechi is a collection of multiple foods, sometimes people dislike part of the Osechi as well. For example, my Father Takeshi didn’t like the Kelp roll based on the interview. Lundy (2016: 296) said, “But people still unite around food because food taps into much deeper values”. When we gather at the same table and eat Osechi, we can feel the connection to each other.
Otoshidama(お年玉)
Otoshidama is basically a real money that adult give to children during new year. During my research of questioner, everyone answered either Otoshidama or nothing to the question of “Do you have a favorite New Year gift for you from yourself and other people?” and normally people in Japan don’t count as a money. Thus, our family and relative thing otoshidama is only one present for Oshogatsu.
Hatsumoude(初詣)
Hatsumoude is the first time to visit a shrine or temple after the new year. They give thanks for the year and pray for safety and peace in the new year.
For example of what they do or get during Hatsumoude
・Sanpai(参拝): Pray to the gods or deceased relatives in front of the shrine.
・Omamori（お守り）:Talisman against evil. Each Omamori said to have different ability of protecting.
・Ema(絵馬): Ema is a small wooden board that we can buy at shrine. It is said to be good luck to draw your wish on an ema and hang it at a shrine.
You can go shrine or temple anytime, but it is important for the people to go there during Oshogatsu so they can have a good year.
