In my New Year’s greetings the other day, I wrote that “元旦 / Gantan（New Year’s Day)” are more important than Christmas in Japan.
This is, needless to say, because Japan is not a Christian country.
There are about 1.97 million Christians in Japan, but they account for only about 1.6% of the total population. For Christians, Christmas may be the biggest holiday of all, the Nativity of the Saviour, but for many Japanese, Christmas feels like an eventful day of partying and dating.
Christianity was introduced in the 16th century, but for a long period faith and proselytising were forbidden. It was only after the Meiji era (1868-1912), when the structure of Japan underwent major changes, that the ban on public belief was lifted. However, Japan was still based on the ideas of Buddhism and Shintoism, which lasted for more than 1,000 years.
Such Shinto beliefs are alive and well in “Gantan” in Japan.
It has been said that “Gantan” is the day on which the god “Toshi-gami（Years god）” visits and brings blessings for the year. The shimenawa and kadomatsu decorations at the entrance were also signs to welcome the gods.
Kadomatsu
The three days from 1 January, Gantan to 3 January, are known as “正月 / Shōgatsu”. （Called “Shōgatsu-San-ga-nichi” to be precise.）
It is common practice in Japan to spend a total of around a week including “Shōgatsu” from around 30 December, which is the end of the year, as a holiday or national holiday.
(The holiday period generally runs from 30 December to 5 January, with the exception of infrastructure and commercial establishments.)
It is customary to refrain from work and general housework for a while after Gantan in order to concentrate on welcoming and entertaining the toshi-gami.
A special meal eaten on Shōgatsu called ‘osechi ryori’ was intended to be prepared and kept until 31 December at the end of the previous year, so that cooking could be omitted during the period.
osechi ryori ＆ mochi
And “mochi” was also a preserved food to keep the cold weather convenient, including Shōgatsu. （※ mochi=japanese rice cakes：However, it is different from onigiri）
I love mochi too. You can bake them as they are and eat them with soy sauce, or you can eat them in soup. The advantage of mochi is that they can be eaten sweet or spicy.
However, Japanese mochis are very elastic and sticky, which can be very dangerous for the elderly and children, whose chewing and swallowing powers are weak. If you come to Japan in winter and want to eat mochis, please be very careful about this.
In the past, “Shōgatsu” was the name for the month of January itself. It was changed to the name of the period during which the New Year was celebrated. The three days from 1-3 January were called “Ō (big) -Shōgatsu” and the three days from 14-16 January were called “Ko (small) -Shōgatsu”, making a total of around 15 days of holiday cheer.
However, political factors in the 17th century led to a shortening of the period, with Shōgatsu lasting up to seven days. As time went on, the long stagnation of social activities became an issue that could not be overlooked, and the period was gradually shortened…
Until about 30 years ago, the first half of January was still reasonably relaxed, but now, as soon as the Shōgatsu holiday is over, it’s business as usual. The carefree days are already a thing of the past…
The town is quiet and the sound of cars is sparse. Kadomatsu are decorated on the doorsteps of houses and children play outside with spinning top and kites. Relatives gather, fathers and mothers exchange New Year’s greetings and enjoy a leisurely Osechi meal in the living room.
Such Shōgatsu scenes are becoming a thing of the past.
Today, Osechi ryori has become a formality and is no longer meant to be a preserved food.
Few people talk about the god of the year any more.
Nevertheless, many Japanese still go to shrines and temples to pay their respects for the New Year, known as “初詣 / Hatsu moude”. (During this period, 90% of the Japanese population).
They usually don’t care about the gods, but they join their hands in front of them as if it were a fixed event.
The Japanese have abandoned a clear religious belief that can be seen from the outside, but instead continue to harbour an awe of the gods deep within them that they are not even aware of…