Japan has a variety of cultural traditions for celebrating the new year.
From visiting a shrine for the first time, to new years sales, the “otoshidama” gift of money to children on new years, to “Osechi” traditional new years meals, as well as the “Zouni” mochi soup, there is a large variety of unique Japanese culture to be experienced when visiting Japan during the New Year’s period.
One of the easiest ways to make a keepsake for the memories of your New Year’s journey are “Nengajo”, or New Year’s cards.
New Year’s Cards are another way to express happiness at the coming of the new year, and express well wishes for the year ahead to family, friends,acquaintances, as well as those we feel gratitude to on a daily basis for their role in our lives.
When traveling, some people send picture postcards to their friends or even themselves from their travel destination.
If you are sending a new year’s card, I hope you will choose a picture postcard. Feel free to send it as a souvenir for yourself, or as a Japanese-style greeting to family, friends or acquaintances.
The more typical design of New Year’s cards use the Chinese zodiac animal of the new year as a motif.
Such New Year’s cards can be found at bookstores, stationery stores, convenience stores, etc.
There are designs featuring bold calligraphy-like strokes as well as those with cute illustrations. The kind of card you choose is an expression of your own taste.
In the open space, write your own comments. There is only enough room to write a short message, but even a short message can reflect the special connection between the sender and the recipient, and elicit a warm reaction from the recipient.
Even if it is someone you aren’t in frequent contact with, it is a way to stay in touch once a year, as well as an opportunity for acquaintances to stay updated on any changes in each other’s lives.
For a change of pace, why not try sending a handwritten message to a certain person in your life instead of using social media?