Welcoming the Boar - a Japanese New Year

Takamatsu Port

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Mt Yashima in the background.

Kadomatsu

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Outside my local shopping centre in Okuizumo.

Nengajo

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Nengajo (New Year's cards) that I received this year. Nengajo are postcards sent at New Year. Special nengajo postcards and personalised ones are not delivered until New Year's Day, even if they are posted ahead of time. It is common for them to include pictures of the animal corresponding to that particular year, in 2007 the boar. Delivery of nengajo continues for at least a week after New Year's Day. It is customary to not send nengajo to anyone who had lost a family member during the year. In 2007 around 3.79 billion nengajo postcards were printed (not including personalized ones) and yes, they sell out - believe me, I tried getting some after New Year's Day to return to those I received them from but hadn't already sent them to, but everywhere was sold out. Specially printed nengajo have a lottery number on them for which a draw is done mid-January. Fingers crossed………..[clear] New Year's rituals which I took part in but didn't have photos of; Osoji ('cleaning') is seen as allowing for a fresh start to the coming year, and is carried out in homes, offices and shops. For those who are laughing right now about the absence of photographic evidence of me cleaning - too bad! Toshi-koshi soba　('across the years noodles') are eaten shortly before midnight.