It’s now 11:50PM on December 31, 2008 (Japan Standard Time (JST)). Shortly, it’ll be 2009.
In late December, Japanese people say よいお年を (Yoi-otoshi-o) for “Happy New Year”…then January 1-3, it’s 明けましておめでとうございます (Akemashite-omedetou-gozaimasu).
As I’ve mentioned before (click here), お正月 (New Years) is the biggest holiday in Japan.
Today is 大晦日 (New Years Eve). On 大晦日 (New Years Eve) in Japan, many people eat 年越しそば (New Year’s noodles) and at midnight go to a temple for the Buddhist tradition of the temple priest’s ringing the temple bell 108 times.
(Click here to read my short FAQ entry about 大晦日 (New Years Eve) in Japan.)
Alot of people (including us this 大晦日 (New Years Eve)), watch one of the popular 大晦日 (New Years Eve) TV shows.
Most people watch 紅白歌合戦 (Red And White Team Music Battle)…but my kids wanted to watch ダウンタウンのガキの使いやあらへんで！！ (Downtown’s No Job For Kids!!)…it’s a crazy comedy variety program.
Tomorrow we’ll go to my in-laws (many of my wife’s relatives will come too) and we’ll have a big, traditional Japanese New Years dinner. My kids will get お年玉 (New Years Gift Money)…and we’ll give my kids’ cousins お年玉 (New Years Gift Money) too.
It’s a good time.
Oh, look at the time…5…4…3…2…1…明けましておめでとうございます (Happy New Year)!
Tokyo Five 
bartman905…
I guess that’s how most people watch variety programs like that.
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We did enjoy the show, although I have to admit we were “multi-tasking” … watching, playing, eating, etc.
Yes, 1 year exactly as we arrived in Tokyo on January 1, 2008. We will stay for a least another year (unless my company sends me back earlier) as I am on a 2 year international work assignment with my company.
Yes, we are now pretty settled in and are looking forward to more experiences in 2009.
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Wow, I got many comments in a two-hour span.
Thank you all for the kind words!
mothernaturesgarden….
Thank you. I hope you have a wonderful 2009, too!
naoko….
>I watched 紅白歌合戦 and shed tears when I watched Jero’s Gandmather was crying with his song…
Actually, Jero’s Japanese grandmother died before she could see him reach his dream of appearing on 「紅白歌合戦」.
His mother was the one who came to Japan and watched his performance.
>For kids in your daughter’s age, 紅白歌合戦 might be boring.
Yes, they’re teenagers. They don’t enjoy that show much.
>How do you say よろしく in English?!
That one’s difficult. I guess there’s no exact English equivalent.
I’d say in the case of 「今年もよろしくお願いします。」…it’d be “Let’s continue our friendship in the coming year”.
It’s not a direct translation, but I think it has the same general meaning.
umepontarou…
Yeah, you should’ve watched Downtown‘s show. They’re crazy!
Sir Pent…
Yeah, I enjoy talking about KISS with you, too.
And I look forward to your comments, as always.
bartman905…
Did you enjoy the 「紅白歌合戦」 TV show? It’s a Japanese New Years tradition. We usually watch it, too.
Please continue to comment on my blog anytime.
And I noticed on your blog that you’ve been in Japan exactly one year now. So I guess you’re getting used to Tokyo life now, huh?
Will you be staying here for one more year only?
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Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu!
Our family also watched the NHK Red and White Music Show on New Year’s Eve.
Thank you for sharing your experiences living in Japan in your interesting blog and I look forward to reading more in 2009.
PS. Also, thank you for stopping by my personal own blog and commenting regularly – you are probably my only regular reader 🙂
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Just wanted to wish a Happy New Year.
I’ve enjoyed becoming “friends” with you this year, finally having someone to talk KISS with and learning about your experiences over in Japan.
I’ll be stopping by in 2009.
Sir Pent
drummer of Lizards From Afar
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明けましておめでとうございます！
aaa I forgot to watch ダウンタウンのガキの使いやあらへんで！！ (>0<) I was watching 紅白歌合戦 with my family…
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明けましておめでとうございます
Thank you for your comment!
I watched 紅白歌合戦 and shed tears when I watched Jero’s Gandmather was crying with his song…
For kids in your daughter’s age, 紅白歌合戦 might be boring.
今年もよろしくお願いします
How do you say よろしく in English?!
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Thanks for your good wishes.
May you have a wonderful new year.
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Aunt Linda…
Thanks for commenting!
Comment more often!
As I wrote above, New Years is Japan’s biggest holiday. There’s alot to do, and eat (and drink! 🙂 )
Is New Years a big holiday in Central America?
What do they do there to celebrate?
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Happy New Year to you all! May this year bring you and your family much joy and many good times together. I look forward to reading about them right here!
Love and kisses.
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