Culture | NEW YEAR SPECIAL Jan 1, 2014

Lucky food, charming decorations, visiting deities: welcoming the new year with history, tradition

Wearing kimono, getting together with family and friends, and not working for the first three days of a new year. Shogatsu, or New Year's, is when Japanese generally work less than the rest of the world. It is also the time to follow long-standing traditions ...

Events / Events In Tokyo | NEW YEAR SPECIAL Jan 1, 2014

Blending old and new for New Year's

by Mayumi Koyama

Thanks to the calendar this year, many people can have a long holiday, so many will be heading out of Tokyo on vacation. But if you're staying in the capital, there will be enough events at the beginning of the year to get you ...