First Visit of the Year

We go to Fugakusan-Shoraku-in Jindaiji (we call it Jindaiji) on the third day of every new year. I hang out there and in the botanical gardens throughout the year. It is only a 15 minute bus ride away. It is just one of many places in the area where we can be surrounded by nature.

Year of the Rabbit

Aunt brought us this mochi from the grocery store. Inside, there is potato paste (sweetened mashed potatoes) that was dyed pink. It is supposed to look like rabbits. Four little rabbits huddle in a plastic hutch.

There was a time (not too long ago) when things were never sold in fours. In pairs, threes or fives, but not fours. Four is an unlucky number because the word in Japanese (shi) is the same sound as the word for death.

Times are changing. Big Sister told me that some people are saying that shi (four) should be considered as a short form for shiawase which means happiness. It will be interesting how much this changes. Gift packs are still being sold in pairs or threes or fives.

Scroll to see earlier posts about mochi or click on the label below. Click here to read about the number 4.

Lucky Dreams

Check this post about the dreams of the second day of the year.

Happy New Year--First View of the New Year

Mt. Fuji had a big cloud stuck to it at sunset last evening. We have clear skies this morning in our piece of Tokyo sky. (This is not at sunrise.)

So glad we still have our view. Even with the wires draping it. It could have been different.

Click here to see last year's post. Click on the label below for more about the New Year's holiday in Japan.

Osechi

We had our New Year's eve meal, osechi, from 6:30 tonight. We always eat downstairs on New Year's eve with the whole family. This is an old photo. We basically had the same thing this year except for the fried chicken. Aunt and Baba made potato and carrot wrapped in beef slices. We eat our own osechi upstairs for the first three days of the year.

Check here for posts and more photos of osechi, the new year's meal.

Mt Fuji at Sunset New Year's Eve

Click to enlarge the photos.

Kagami Mochi

Yesterday, Baba asked us to buy one of these. We ended up with three. I bought one for us upstairs and she had asked Aunt to buy one, too. Kagami Mochi is displayed at this time of year. It will be eaten in ozoni, a vegetable and meat soup. The mikan on top is plastic.

Check out Kids Web Japan-- Kagami Mochi

Click here for mikan.

Click on the label below for more posts about the New Year holiday in Japan.

First Tokyo Sunrise of 2010 from Our Roof Garden

Blue moon in the west. (almost had a bird on the wire.)

The rising sun in the east.

Mt. Fuji in the southwest.

Osechi

This year Big Sister bought a box of osechi from Isetan, a department store. It served two people. She bought it so we could sample some fancy side dishes. She ordered it several days ahead and then picked it up on the 31st (osechi is eaten the first three days of the new year including dinner on the 31st.) The osechi box was wrapped in a furoshiki and was packed in a cardboard box.

We had other traditional side dishes. Like walnuts and small dried fish.

Stewed vegetables that include lotus root, sato imo, mushrooms, carrots, gingko nuts, burdock, bamboo root, and konnyaku.

And datemaki, spongy sweet egg cooked with fish broth. It is served at room temperature.
Check this post for more pictures of osechi. I didn't take pictures of everything this year.

Check Kids Web Japan-- New Year's Day and New Year's Cards

Best Wishes for the New Year!

Best wishes and fresh air! Aunt gave this to me. It is an air freshener. The cow decoration is made of paper, but the back is a thick piece of charcoal/charwood.

Floor Cleaning Slippers

The new year is coming. Here, everyone tries to clear all the old year's dirt out of the house before the first day of the new year. There are a lot of displays and advertisements of cleaning products.

These floor cleaning slippers were in an ad for the store ATMAN. They can be found there throughout the year, but now is a good time to advertise them. I've never considered buying them or even really looked at them. I wonder if they come with instructions.

White ones have been available for decades. They were available in a kid's size, too. These are nice because they are brown. They won't show dirt or stains from the old year. Even after they are washed.

Decorative Mochi

This New Year's decoration was for sale at a department store. It is quite elaborate. Today is the day to put it away.

This mochi is used as part of the decoration. It is sold at grocery stores before and during the holidays. This one is the size of Little Brother's palm. (He's ten years old.) Today is the day to eat the mochi.

Kids Web Japan--kagamimochi

Good Luck Arrow

These are sold at shrines and temples at New Year's. This is for general good luck.

These are real feathers.

Bells are on good luck items.

This will be burned at the shrine or temple next year.

Raking in Money in the Coming Year

These are also good luck rakes sold at shrines and temples at New Year's.

There is a fake branch of bamboo, pine and plum blossoms on it. Those are auspicious plants. There is a sprig of real rice, too. Rice is a food staple here. It is very important to life in Japan.

It is a rake. So, if you buy this, you will rake in lots of money in the coming year.

This is a daruma. They are also sold separately. Daruma are bought if you have a specific wish in mind. You think of the wish, then you paint or draw one of the daruma's eyes. When your wish comes true, you paint the other eye.

Daruma, this rake, and the good luck arrow will be burned next year whether the wishes come true or not.

Kids Web Japan-- daruma

Surprise Packages

The holidays are over for workers. Some store clerks have been working through the holidays. These pictures were taken on the 2nd in a shopping area. Stores sell surprise packages for a set price. Some bags have goods that add up to be more than the price you pay for the package.

This little scissors shop had surprise packages for sale.

This is a suitcase full of stuff for 2100 yen. The character is from a Disney movie. Do you recognize her? She has been very popular here.

Another store, more packages.

Even a flower shop bagged some floral arrangements.

Temple Visit

People visit a shrine or a temple in the first three days of the new year. We go to Jindai Temple.

There, they build a wooden ramp over the stairs during the holidays.

There are slats of wood and straw on the ramp to make it easier to walk up to the temple grounds.

The main temple building is draped in colorful flags for the holidays.

People move to the front of this temple building to throw money and to pray. Usually there is a big wooden box where people toss coins. Because there are so many people at New Year's, a big space is made with big bamboo poles and white cloth.

A monk walked into the picture I was taking. He was walking from one building to another to hold a prayer service. There was a pond below.

Good luck items are sold here. I'll post a picture later of the ones Papa bought. We also bought fortunes and tied them to the tree. Little Brother thought we shouldn't take pictures of them.

This is where you throw the good luck items from last year. Usually there is a fire to toss them into. This year people threw them into this small shed. It was built especially for them. The temple will dispose of them later.

We usually eat soba at a restaurant near here. There are many soba shops here. This place is known for its hand-made soba.

Hagoita

This is Big Sister's hagoita. Baba and Jiji bought it for her when she was a baby. It is a New Year's decoration.

The kimono is made out of silk.

This is its lacquer stand.

This is the back.

Kids Web Japan--hagoita