how do japan celebrate chinese new year what do chinese people eat on chinese new year

The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year is usually celebrated between late January and February, during the first new moon. This year, it will be on Wednesday, January 2025. But if you’re in Japan, you may be wondering, “Does Japan celebrate Chinese New Year?” Here’s what you should know. Does Japan Celebrate Chinese New Year? The short answer is: No. Japanese do not celebrate New Year in the same way as other Asian countries do. From the 6th Century BC, Japan had a calendar that combined lunar and solar calendars. This was used as the main way of keeping time in Japan until 1873. Chinese New Year is an annual festival originated in China and Chinese communities around the world celebrate the beginning of a new year based on the traditional Chinese calendar. The Chinese New Year starts on the new moon which appears sometime between January 21 and February 20. In 2024, it’s from February 10 to 17! During the Chinese New Modern-day Japan does not celebrate Lunar New Year the same way its neighbors do, but several shōgatsu traditions are similar due to their shared history. Both traditions emphasize cleaning the home before the first day of the new year to sweep away the problems of last year (called ōsōji 大掃除, or “big cleaning”). Wondering if Japan joins in on the Chinese New Year festivities? The short answer is no—Japan doesn’t officially celebrate Chinese New Year. Instead, the country follows the Gregorian calendar for its own New Year traditions, called shōgatsu, which kicks off on January 1st. That said, Lunar New Year isn’t entirely absent in Japan! Has Japan Ever Celebrated The Lunar New Year? There was a time when Japan did celebrate the Lunar New Year. In the sixth century CE, the Chinese lunisolar calendar became the main way of timekeeping within Japan. This lasted until the year 1873. Before this came about, Japan actually celebrated New Year’s Day along with Vietnam, Korea and China. In modern Japan, the Gregorian New Year is celebrated, so the Lunar New Year is not a part of most Japanese people’s lives. Most Japanese people are unaware of the Lunar New Year and only hear about it mostly as Chinese New Year on the TV news. So, many people in Japan really do not know what Chinese New Year is. If you want to celebrate the year of the snake in Japan, there are few better places to visit than Yokohama Chinatown, which has observed Chinese Spring Festival traditions since 1986. The Chinese Zodiac is still a part of Japan’s New Year celebrations to this day. Despite changing to the Gregorian calendar, Japan celebrates the changing of the zodiac on January 1, welcoming any of the 12 animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. For the celebration of the new year, the festivities begin in Kobe in the morning usually with a Chinese acrobatic dance show. Nagasaki Chukagai. This is the oldest Chinatown in Japan. Focused in an area of 200 m², the area was the residence of many sailors and Chinese merchants between the 15th and 19th century who traded with Japan. For many who celebrate the Lunar New Year in Japan, this occasion is also marked by simply spending time with friends and loved ones. Victor Jiacheng Leong, a Chinese Singaporean living in Tokyo, explains “In my sharehouse, we mark the new year by coming together and chatting over a comforting hotpot meal.” Lean the Japanese new year traditions. Embark on a cultural odyssey through Japan’s cherished New Year traditions, where ancient customs and modern celebrations intertwine, creating a tapestry of renewal, hope, and good fortune. Ring out the old, ring in the new! Dive into the rich tapestry of Japanese New Year traditi Japanese patisseries celebrate the new year with wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) fashioned in the shape of the Chinese zodiac animal of that year. Japanese bakeries also bake tiny Western-style cakes in the shape of New Year’s animals. Celebrate Chinese New Year in Japan for an Entertaining & Enriching Experience 7. Sending Chinese New Year Wishes. During Chinese New Year, Chinese people will greet each other with pleasant words like: 'Xin nian kuai le' which means 'Happy New Year' (simplified Chinese: 新年快乐). See more Chinese New Year Greetings and Wishes. 8. Watching the New Year TV Gala How is the New Year period celebrated in Japan, and what are typical Japanese New Year traditions and activities? Most countries have their own ways to celebrate the beginning of a new year with a host of age-old traditions. The New Year period is one of the most important times of the year in Japan, with the season typically celebrated with family while taking part in a number of traditions Lunar new year — also known as Chinese New Year or Chinese Lunar New Year — is not only famous across East Asian countries, but also the world. It’s celebrated around late January to early February, which is the start of the new lunar calendar that bases its months on moon phases, meaning that all the countries which follow the lunar calendar join in with their own cultural version of Greeting the sunrise on New Years. Hatsuhinode (first sunrise) is exactly as the name implies: being awake just as dawn breaks on January 1st to welcome the New Year.This Japanese tradition dates back hundreds of years ago when it was customary for all Japanese people to pray to the goddess of the sun, Amaterasu, on the first day of the year. Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is China’s most important festival.. It always falls on the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar, which begins the day after As the last day of the lunar year, Chinese New Year's Eve (除夕 chú xī) is the day before Chinese New Year. It is a grand reunion time for the whole Chinese family. People will participate in many activities to celebrate the coming new year. Chinese New Year's Eve Traditions 1. Putting Up New Year Decorations Whether you’re keeping things traditional or not, you can get into the festive spirit with a Chinese New Year reunion in Bali, be it a dinner, an event or a family gathering. Here’s where you can celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 in Bali. Gong Xi Fa Cai! Chinese New Year 2025 in Bali: The Year of the Snake. This year, we’re slithering into

how do japan celebrate chinese new year what do chinese people eat on chinese new year
Rating 5 stars - 986 reviews




Blog

Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.

Video