2024 is here! We discuss resolutions for the year as well as how the holiday is celebrated in each country.
The most important holiday in Japan is welcoming the new year. We discuss all the traditions which start, immediately the day after Christmas.
Some of the Japanese terms used in the podcast:
忘年会 (bounenkai) - work year-end party
門松 (kadomatsu)- a bamboo decoration placed in pairs in front of homes and buildings
しめ飾り (shimekazari)- a decoration made from rice straws hung outside at the top of the entrance door
鏡餅 (kagami mochi)- a decoration with two mochi discs stacked on top of each other with Japanese bitter orange placed on top. This signifies the overlap between happiness and fortune and therefore brings luck and positive resolutions in the new year.
お節料理 (osechiryouri)- traditional Japanese new year's food
紅白歌合戦 (kouhaku uta gassen)- is an annual music program that has been broadcasting on TV and radio on NYE since 1951
年越し蕎麦 (toshikoshi soba)- aka new year soba noodles. It's said that eating this is to cut off the misfortune of the previous year.
お年玉 (otoshidama)- money given to children in a special envelope from parents and relatives
福笑い (fukuwarai)- pin the tail. The objective of the game is to place cutouts of eyes, nose, and mouth in a blank face canvas.
羽根突き(hanetsuki)- traditional Japanese badminton
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Big shoutout to Allison Gray for generously granting us permission to feature her song, "Off My Mind" (from Ep 05).