Conquer Asia

New Year means new ways of life and improvement of lifestyle from the previous year. On January 1, the Japanese celebrate this significant day and consider the event as among the most significant annual festivals in the country.

During this day, people from Japan usually eat a special selection of dishes and they call this osechi-ryori or commonly called as osechi. They also have a famous soup called ozoni and it is made up of miso, boiled kelp, fish cakes, mashed sweet potato with tasty chestnut, simmered burdock root and sweet black soybeans. Sashimi and sushi are also eaten by most Japanese.

In the eve of New Year, Japanese people traditionally give pocket money to their children. This practice is what they call as otoshidama and it is given out in small decorated enveloped that are known as pochibukuro. People from Japan are also fond of playing games during this day. Among their traditional games are hanetsuki, takoage or kite flying, koma or top and many other more.

japanese new year, japan, festival