New Year greetings for a mourning person in Japan Can somebody help me? I sent New Year greetings to my Japanese friend (あけまして おめでとう ございます). He wrote back that when in Japan a person is mourning (his

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otousan70

New Year greetings for a mourning person in Japan Can somebody help me? I sent New Year greetings to my Japanese friend (あけまして　おめでとう　ございます). He wrote back that when in Japan a person is mourning (his wife died in 2012) I should not send this phrase. I think it has been a mistake by me because of misunderstanding. But what should I write in this case?

Jan 3, 2013 9:02 PM

Answers · 6

Yes, we normally refrain from sending a new year's card and saying the phrase "おめでとう" to a mourning person. Instead we send a 寒中見舞い(kanchuu mimai/かんちゅうみまい) card saying; 「寒中お見舞い申し上げます」 (Kanchuu omimai moushi agemasu/かんちゅうおみまいもうしあげます) (+「旧年中はお世話になりました (kyuu nen chuu wa osewa ni narimashita /きゅうねんちゅうはおせわになりました)」「今年もよろしくお願いいたします (kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu /ことしもよろしくおねがいいたします)」etc.). http://kimikokitani.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/ichigatsu-nijyugo-nichi-january-25.html#

January 3, 2013

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