FESTIVALS January 2022
FESTIVALS
Closed on the first few days of the year
Government offices: Dec. 29 to Jan. 3
Shimin service centers —– Iyotetsu Takashimaya: Dec. 28 to Jan. 4
Fuji Grand Matsuyama: Dec. 29 to Jan. 3
Banks: Dec. 31 to Jan. 3 / Post offices: Dec. 31 to Jan. 3
City libraries —- Chuo, Mitsuhama, Hojo: Dec. 27, Dec. 29 to Jan. 4
Nakajima: Dec. 27, Dec. 29 to Jan. 3
City passport center: Dec. 29 to Jan. 3 (Fuji Gran Matsuyama Annex 2F)
Jan. 1-3 SHOGATSU (New Year Days)
Shogatsu, more often means a particular period of the New Year, especially the first three days of January. New Year’s Day
(Gantan or Ganjitsu) is the most important. People place round rice cakes (kagami-mochi) on the household altar (kamidana) and/or in the alcove (tokonoma) before New Year’s Day. New Year decorations (shime-kazari and kadomatsu) are also set up. Family members, even those who live in remote areas, gather together. On the morning of Gantan, people celebrate the New Year with spiced sake (toso), special New Year’s food (osechi-ryori) and rice cakes boiled with vegetables (zoni). People enjoy reading New Year’s cards (nenga-jo). Many people pay the year’s first visit to temples and shrines (hatsu-mode). Children are given good luck gifts or money (otoshidama). Unfortunately, many will miss this important time to be with family due to the pandemic.
A New Year’s Dictionary
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SHIMEKAZARI |
A sacred decoration made of straw, two fern leaves and daidai (a small citrus). It is hung above entrance doors and various places, even in front of cars. |
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KADOMATSU |
More extravagant than shimekazari is kadomatsu. It is made of bamboo, pine and plum tree branches and set on both sides of a gate or entry-way. |
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TOSO |
Toso is prepared by soaking overnight a tososan bag in sake or mirin (sweet sake) like a teabag. Tososan |
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OSECHI-RYORI |
*Kazunoko *Kohaku Kamaboko |
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ZONI |
Zoni is a special soup served with pieces of rice cake (mochi) |
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NENGA-JO |
New Year’s cards called nenga-jo are posted during in December and delivered in a batch on the New Year’s day. People make the cards in various ways, such as wood block prints, calligraphy and picture prints. If there has been a death in the family the past year you do not send nenga-jo and no one should send them to you because you are still in mourning. |
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HATSU-MODE |
This is the first visit of the year to temples and shrines. People pray for good health and fortune throughout the year. Gokoku-jinja is the most popular place for hatsu-mode in Matsuyama. White arrows named “hamaya” are often sold as good luck charms. |
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OTOSHIDAMA |
This is a gift of money given to children. The money is put in a small envelope. The amount ranges from 1,000 yen to as much as 10,000 or more depending on the age of and relationship to the child. |
Early Jan. HATSU-URI (First Sales) 初売り
Many stores have special bargains to celebrate the re-opening after the New Year’s holidays. “Good fortune bags” containing various goods (fuku-bukuro) are often sold at a very reasonable price, but you take a chance because you don’t know what they contain until you open them.
Jan. 7 NANAKUSA-GAYU 七草粥
Nanakusa-gayu is a porridge of rice made with haru-no-nanakusa, seven spring herbs. Eating nanakusa-gayu on January 7th has been a traditional event for a long time. In the Edo era (1603-1867) this event was one of the go-sekku 五節句、five seasonal festivals, and the shogun and his men would celebrate it. The porridge is said to cure every disease, so Japanese still enjoy eating it on this day after the celebration and feasting over New Year’s. You can find packs of these seven herbs in the vegetable section of supermarkets at this time.
Take one home and make your own soup or porridge!
Jan. 10 SEIJIN-NO-HI (Coming-of-Age Day) 成人の日 National Holiday
In Japan people celebrate the coming of age of those who will turn twenty during the course of that particular year. Ceremonies for those young people are held all over Japan by local governments. When they become twenty years old, they are expected to have a sense of responsibility as adults and members of society, having already acquired the right to vote.
SEIJIN-SHIKI (Ceremony)
In Matsuyama a coming-of-age celebration will be held on January 9 and invitation cards have already been sent to those who were born between April 2 in 2001 and April 1 in 2002 and have resident’s cards in Matsuyama city on the day of November 1, including those of foreign nationalities.
For further information: Matsuyama City Office Chiiki-gakushu-shinkoka 地域学習振興課
Tel: 089-948-6813 / E-mail: hatachi@city.matsuyama.ehime.jp
Mid Jan. HATSUNE-SAN 初子祭
Yu-jinja shrine 湯神社
In Dogo
Details of the festival have not been announced yet.
(Tel. 089-921-0480)
Mid Jan. TONDO (DONDO)-YAKI FESTIVAL
Tondo -yaki is a fire festival in some regions where people pray for good health and prosperity in the New Year by gathering bamboo, wood, and New Year’s decorations from their homes, such as shimenawa and kadomatsu, and burning them together. Tondo-yaki is held early in the morning or at night. You can see the festival in many places, and the date varies according to the place.
NOTES: Events might be canceled or postponed to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus infection. Please check the latest information.
