National Dec 28, 2019
Japanese heading home for New Year's holidays crowd trains and airports
People heading to their hometowns or going abroad for the New Year’s holidays crowd train stations, airports and roads in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Travel Dec 28, 2019
Hatsuhinode: Where to see the first sunrise of the decade
by Russell Thomas
There's never a better time to catch sunrise in Japan than at new year. From Tokyo Tower to the coast of Chiba Prefecture, here are 10 of the best places to see the first sunrise of the year near Tokyo.
Business / Corporate Dec 27, 2019
Lawson to allow New Year's store closures in Japan on trial basis
Lawson Inc. plans to allow some outlets to close during the New Year's holiday period on a trial basis, said Sadanobu Takemasu, president and chief executive officer of the convenience store chain, in a recent interview. Between Tuesday and Thursday, 102 stores across 25 prefectures ...
Language | BILINGUAL Dec 24, 2019
'Tis the season for a lot of gift-giving
by Kaori Shoji
If you want to give gifts at Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year's Eve, then get the language of giving and receiving down pat
National Dec 22, 2019
In Japan, 10% unlikely to take year-end or New Year's holidays
A survey has found that 10.6 percent of the nation's workers will likely be unable to take even a single day off during the nine-day year-end and New Year's holiday period from Saturday to Jan. 5. The proportion of respondents who can possibly take all ...
Lifestyle | Kateigaho International Japan Edition Dec 21, 2019
The end of the year is a time for thorough cleaning to ready the home for the arrival of Toshigami-sama, the god of the new year. Modern lifestyles notwithstanding, the custom remains deeply ingrained in Japan. Two leading floral designers and an in-demand stylist ...
Food & Drink | JAPANESE KITCHEN Dec 14, 2019
Whether it's sweet or savory, zōni soup is a new year mainstay
by Makiko Itoh
For centuries, mochi rice cakes have been a part of festive occasions in Japan, especially during the new year holidays. A hearty zōni soup is one classic way to incorporate mochi into your new year meal.
Lifestyle | Kateigaho International Japan Edition Dec 14, 2019
Mizuhiki are an indispensable part of the country's new year celebrations, embodying people's hopes and prayers for the 12 months ahead.
National Nov 1, 2019
Japan Post begins sales of Reiwa's first New Year's postcards
Japan Post Co. began selling the first New Year's lottery postcards of the Reiwa Era on Friday. A ceremony for the 2020 nengajō (New Year's greeting cards) was held at JP Tower in Tokyo's Marunouchi district. At the event, Toshiaki Hirose, a former member of the ...
National Jun 20, 2019
Tokyo's Shibuya Ward bans drinking in some areas for Halloween and New Year's
The Shibuya Ward Assembly approved an ordinance Wednesday banning the consumption of alcohol on some of the area's streets and parks during Halloween and New Year's events to address an increasing number of incidents by rowdy partygoers. The ordinance calls on restaurants to refrain from ...
National Jan 1, 2019
IN PICTURES: Japan says good night to 2018, good morning to 2019
Japan greeted 2019 — the year of the boar, according to the Chinese astrological calendar — Monday evening and Tuesday morning with traditional visits to both major and minor temples and not-so-traditional events, such as the massive one at the famous Shibuya Crossing, where thousands ...
Language | New Year Special 2019 Jan 1, 2019
Shogatsu, or New Year's holidays, are a special time for Japanese, who typically revisit and take part in long-standing traditions. It's a time when those who left their hometowns go back to visit their families, invite relatives and friends to their homes and wear ...