New Year’s is the biggest festival in Japan. As a time for new beginnings, it is often observed by doing activities “for the first time in the new year”. The first calligraphy of the new year is called 書初め (kakizomé). The kanji: 書 = writing (as in 書道 – Japanese calligraphy, or “the way ofContinueContinue reading “書初め (kakizomé) The First Calligraphy of the New Year”
Tag Archives: new year
抱負 (hō-fu) resolution
New Year’s resolutions are just as popular in Japan as they are in western countries. In Japanese “New Year’s resolution” is 新年の抱負 (shin-nen-no-hō-fu). 新年 = New Year (shin-nen) 抱負 = resolution (hō-fu)
新年 (shin-nen) New Year
The New Year’s holiday is one of the most important times for Japanese people. It’s a time to clean the house, make resolutions, forget the old year, and make a clean start. The kanji: 新 = new (pronounced “a-ta-ra-shi-i” by itself, and “shin” when in conjunction with other kanji). 年 = year (pronounced “toshi” byContinueContinue reading “新年 (shin-nen) New Year”
あけおめ (a-ké-o-mé) “Happy New Year”
To wish someone “Happy New Year” in Japanese, say: あけまして おめでとうございます！ (a-ké-ma-shi-té o-mé-dé-tō go-zai-masu) Or, more casually, take the first 2 syllables from each word and say: あけ おめ！ (a-ké o-mé)
Calligraphy by Vicky 