New Year is a massive celebration in Japan. Most people take time off work, visit their family, eat loads of good food, and go to their local shrine to pray for good luck for the upcoming year.
If you’re learning Japanese you probably learnt:
“Happy New Year!” = あけましておめでとうございます！
(a-ke-ma-shi-te o-me-de-to go-za-i-ma-su)
This is correct, but it’s long.
If you want to wish someone Happy New Year, but can’t remember this long phrase, do what Japanese kids do, and shorten it to:
あけおめ！
a-ke-o-me!
Calligraphy by Vicky 