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年中行事
Nenchugyoji |  |
JANUARY
| 1月1日 | ( 正月 ) [ shogatsu ] |
| 1st January | New Year day |
 | 1st Jan is the New Year Day. New year is the most important event in Japan. |
| On New Year's Eve, every Japanese family will clean the house and clothes . The cleaning is called Susuharai. Both inside and outside the house, the stains, physical and spiritual, of the past year are rubbed out in order to purify the home and make it fresh for the New Year. |
On New Year Eve, Japanese will eat Toshikoshi Soba ( Buckwheat noodles ), watching Kohaku Uta Gassen ( a song competition ) --- the program held by NHK broadcast. Japanese Pop Star always presents the performances in the competition every year.
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Toshikoshi Soba |
Kadomatsu | Special decorations which made of Pine, bamboo, and plum tree will be set up on new year's eve. A pine decoration known as Kadomatsu is set up on the front entrance. Some homes have elaborate Kadomatsu with bamboo added to the pine, sometimes with plum branches. It is thought that decorating the Kadomatsu can welcome good luck into the house. |
| Another decoration is the Shimenawa, a sacred rope made of straw on which zig-zag strips of paper is hung. This is placed above the front entrance in order to prevent "evil spirits" from entering the house. |
| On New Year Day, it is also a tradition to visit temple or Jinja ( shrine ), people visit shrines in order to pray for good fortune and to turn away evil spirits . At night big bells are rung 108 times in temples and shrines throughout the country, it is said this is for driving away the 108 evil thoughts. | 
Jinja |
Osechi Ryori | Japanese enjoys their special Osechi Ryori during the New Year. Breakfast will be Otoso (a sweetened rice wine) and Ozoni (soup with mochi). | 
Ozoni |
| It is also very popular to send New Year greeting cards to friends during the new year period. |
| * | 忘年会 [ bonenkai ]--- Forget-the-year Gathering
| | | Bonenkai or " Forget-the-year Parties " are held throughout December .
| | * | 新年会 [ shinnenkai ]---New Year Gathering
| | | Shinnenkai or " New Year Parties" are held in January. They are social gatherings of
company workers, business and other friends that usually take place in restaurants.
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| 1月15日 | ( 成人の日 ) [ Seijin no hi ] |
| 15th January | Coming-of-Age-Day |
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15 January is a Japanese holiday to celebrate those young people who became 20 years old, or who will reach the age of 20 during the year.
| People who have reached this age are subject to become aware of their responsibility as adults and make a resolution to survive.
| Seijin shiki (adult ceremony) is to honor the "new adults". The ceremony is normally held in the morning and all of the young adults stay in the area are invited to attend. Government officials will give speeches, and small presents will be given out to the new young adults.
| Women celebrate the day by donning Furisode kimono, In the early morning of the ceremony, they always go to a beauty parlor to have their hair set and put on makeup.
| Young men normally don business suits, but men who wears dark-colored kimonos also can be seen at the ceremony sometimes.
 January
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