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Special Amusements
While the holiday is a time of ritual, it is also a time of relaxation. children enjoy Tako-age, or kite-flying. The blustery winter winds are usually perfect for lifting the large, colorful kites off the ground. For girls, a popular sport at this time is Hane-tsuki, known in the West as battledore and shuttlecock. A century ago, girls in colorful Kimono could be seen everywhere playing this game at New Year's, but it is now less popular than before. Still, the Battledore Market in Tokyo is thronged with poeple during December who come to shop for battledores or just browse among the brightly painted paddles containing images of Samurai and ladies. |
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Karuta, a kind of card game, is also popular during the New Year holiday. The players spread out cards on which pictures and poems, or characters and proverbs, or flowers and months, are illustrated. The object of the game is to pick the correct cards first. In one game, a reader reads the first part of poem while the players search for the card on which the last part is written. As can be seen, Karuta is stimulating, educational and competitive.
On January 4, most people return to work. The holiday has refreshed them and prepared them to tackle the tasks and goals of another year. The New Year's atmosphere hangs on several days, because many ceremonies continue to take place until Setsubun, in early February. |
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Jan. 6 is the dezomeshiki, or day when the fire brigade goes back into formation after the holiday celebration. The acrobatic performances atop ladders, and demon strations staged by Tokyo's firemen at the Palace plaza are a delight to behold. Costumes of firemen of the Middle Ages are worn for the occasion. |
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The Kadomatsu, or pine tree decorations gracing the entrance of each household, are removed on the night of Jan. 14. The 2 weeks during which the kadomatsu decorates the doors is called matsunouchi, or inside the pine. The recent tendency in Tokyo is to remove the trees on Jan. 7.
Jan. 7 is also the day for eating nanakusa-gayu or gruel cooked with seven varieties of herbs.
On Jan. 11, the kagami-mochi or two tiered rice cake that were placed in the alcove of the living room and kitchen are cut up and eaten. This custom, called kagami biraki, was originated by the samurai class. |
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Dondoyaki or ombeyaki, an ancient Chinese custom which takes place on the night of Jan. 14, is an occasion for much merrymaking, especially for the children. On this night, kadomatsu, shimekazari and other New Year decorations are gathered from the households and burned in a huge bonfire. The participants sing songs, roast rice cakes and indulge in fortune telling.
On Jan. 15, or Small New Year, azuki-qayu (gruel cooked with red beans) is eaten to drive away evil spirit and illness for the coming year.
This day is also a national holiday called Seijin no Hi or Adults Day and dedicated to young men and women who reached the age of 20.
On Jan. 18, the annual outakai-hajime, or poetry party is held at Court. Poems on a given theme selected from the entries submitted by the public are read aloud on this occasion. |
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Hatsumairi
Visits to Shinto shrines are important in the lives of the Japanese people. They not only make periodical visits to their Ujigami or district shrines, but they also make special trips to pay respects to distant shrines. But of all such visits to shrines, the most important is Hatsumairi or First Visit which is made on New Year's Day.
The New Year's Day symbolizes the birth of the nation and thus on the first day of the year, the people are particularly inclined to worship.
The Japanese people love to make special visits to distant, famous shrines. Trains leaving various parts of the country late on New Year's Eve are usually crowded with persons who intend to make visits early in the morning of New Year's Day.
Local Ujigami shrines have large numbers of visitors as soon as the 108 bells are sounded to usher in the New Year.
At many local shrines, special charms to protect the happiness of worshippers are issued in the New Year season. The aim of Hatsumairi is to pray for a bright and happy year. The beginning of the year is quite significant to the Japanese people who believe that one year begins on New Year's Day and ends on the following New Year's Eve, and that each year is a separate unit.
This belief respecting the beginning of the year, and the association with the birth of the Nation, are factors that made Hatsumairi popular and significant in the country. |
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