OMISOKA  NEW YEAR

31.12.2024

New Year’s Eve, known as Ōmisoka, is a big deal in Japan. Traditionally it is a deeply meaningful time for reflection and tradition. Most people make an effort to return to their parents’ homes to gather and celebrate the transition from the old year to the new one. During this time, the Shinkansen operates at 130% of its usual capacity.

Mami and Youko kicked off the day with early grocery shopping. As they predicted, it was very crowded but they managed to get what they needed to make a traditional New Year’s meal called osechi-ryori. More on that tomorrow.

Even though Nana and Yuri aren’t returning, we’re here to fully embrace the rituals and traditions. Here is the list of the rituals.

New Year’s Eve (Ōmisoka)

Family Gatherings: On New Year’s Eve, families come together to spend quality time with loved ones. Many households engage in a thorough cleaning of their homes to purify the space and eliminate any bad luck carried over from the previous year. 

While Youko and Mami were out doing the shopping, Yoshi and I cleaned up the kitchen. Mami calls it a Robert clean, as I get every scrap of grease, dirt, left over food, mould etc. until the kitchen is spotless. Yoshi helped me and he dedicated his efforts to the exhaust fan above the cooktop. He took everything out and cleaned off a tonne of grease, fluff and dust. It was horrendous and when he was finished it was spotless. The kitchen looks fantastic. Even Youko, who had bought special cleaning fluids because she doubted our skills was shocked when she saw how clean the cooktop was and she had wasted her money on cleaner when what was need was a bit of elbow grease! Win for the guys of the house!

Toshikoshi Soba (Year-Crossing Noodles): A special dish enjoyed on Ōmisoka is toshikoshi soba, long buckwheat noodles. The length of the noodles represents a wish for longevity and a smooth transition from one year to the next. We all had Toshikoshi Soba at 10:00pm.

Watching New Year’s Eve TV Broadcasts: A beloved tradition is watching Kohaku Uta Gassen, a televised music show featuring top artists. It has become a favorite way for families to unwind and bond as the year draws to a close. We also watched a sports show. Various TV personnel and Gold medalists challenged themselves with various feats such as archery, running and obstacle courses. 

Joya no Kane (Bell Ringing): At midnight, temples across Japan ring their bells 108 times, representing the 108 human desires in Buddhist teachings. The sound of the bells is believed to purify the mind, allowing people to begin the new year with a fresh start.