New Year (正月, shōgatsu) is the most important holiday in Japan. Most businesses shut down from January 1 to January 3, and families typically gather to spend the days together. Years are traditionally viewed as completely separate, with each new year providing a fresh start. Consequently, all duties are supposed to be completed by the end of the year, while bonenkai parties ("year forgetting parties") are held with the purpose of leaving the old year's worries and troubles behind. Homes and entrance gates are decorated with ornaments made of pine, bamboo and plum trees, and clothes and houses are cleaned. On New Year's eve, toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles), symbolizing longevity, are served. A more recent custom is watching the music show "kohaku uta gassen", a highly popular television program featuring many of Japan's most famous J-pop and enka singers in spectacular performances.

italki online Japanese teacher Tatsuki and Akari talks about International marriage! イタリアの女性とご結婚されたTatsukiさんと国際結婚についておしゃべり。

I feel Christmas and New Year's holiday in Japan and north America is opposite. In Japan, Christmas is more like party time, festival feeling, and new years holiday is more holy and family gathering feeling. 日本のクリスマスとお正月。北米と逆だなと思います。日本はクリスマスはパーティーとかサンタクロースのイメージ。お正月がもう少し神聖な雰囲気で家族でも集まります。

日本語には、水という言葉を含むことわざがたくさんあります。島国で、海や川が身近にあるからでしょう。 Japanese has many saying include the word, "mizu=water". Today, I'll introduce five of them. 今日は５つのことわざを紹介します。 1. 「水を得た魚のよう」 2. 「水に流す」 3.「水があわない」 4. 「水に慣れる」 5. 「寝耳に水」