Greetings! My name is Amy Winters-Voss and I write urban fantasy based on
Japanese mythology. Today I get to share about the culture of one of the places
I love most—Japan.
New Year's Day in Japan
The big winter holiday in Japan is New Years. It's an official government
holiday and many businesses are closed from December 29th through January 4th.
It's a hectic but fund time filled with New Years office parties, putting out
special decorations such as a stack of rice cakes with an orange or a bundle of
pine and bamboo tied with straw, the annual cleaning of the house from top to
bottom, feasting on traditional foods, the temple bells ringing in the New
Year, giving kids a red envelope with cash, surprise bags (where the contents
aren't known before hand) purchased at retailers, fireworks displays, watching
the first sunrise of the year, and visiting the local shrine or temple.
Why not the Lunar New Year?
Unlike much of Asia, Japan doesn't celebrate the Lunar New Year anymore.
Though it used to. Many aspects of China's scholarship were imported to Japan
about the 6th century—from the symbol based writing system to the lunar
calendar. That changed in 1873 when the Meiji Era government, in its sweeping
changes to modernize and be recognized by the West as a major power, adopted
the Gregorian calendar. Events were shifted to match. Thus, Japan celebrates
New Years on January 1st.
What about Christmas?
Japan doesn't celebrate Christmas like the west. It's not a time of family
gatherings, gift giving, and big holiday feasts. Instead, Christmas Eve is
considered a romantic day. It's not a government holiday. Though, you'll can
see Christmas light displays. And through a clever marketing ploy, KFC became
very popular on Christmas and Christmas Eve.
New Years Cards
One of the most popular traditions is sending New Years cards, called
nengajo, to family and friends, expressing gratitude to those who have helped
you during the year. The post office puts in extra effort to ensure that these
special greetings are delivered early on the morning of January 1st.
Let's Make a New Years Card
Even though Japan doesn't follow the lunar calendar any more, they still
enjoy reference the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac. 2022 will be Year of
the Tiger, so it will be a popular theme for cards. Mt. Fuji is also a popular
icon on cards.
I've collected a few designs from Freepik (one of my favorite graphics
places) that you can download for free and print on cardstock.
https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/2022-year-tiger-new-years-card-template-decorated-with-japanese-vintage-patterns_16951334.htm
https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/2022-new-years-greeting-symbol-with-cartoonish-tiger-face-text-translation-tiger_16312693.htm
https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/year-tiger-mascot-decorated-with-japanese-lucky-charms-text-translation-tiger_16333580.htm
Here are some of the common greetings in kanji and kana (the Japanese
writing system), a Romanized version so you can see how it's said, and an
English translation.
- 明けましておめでとうございます。[Akemashite omedetou
gozaimasu.] - Happy New Year
- 昨年はお世話になりました。[Sakunen wa osewa ni
narimashita.] - Thank you for all your support last year.
- 今年もよろしくお願いします。[Kotoshi mo yoroshiku
onegaishimasu.] - I'm looking forward to the goodness of our continued
friendship/relationship. (for relationship here, think work or office).
If you are sending your card to Japan write 年賀 (Nenga) on it so the
Japanese post office will know it should go with the new year's cards. Cards
sent to Japan should get to the local post office by December 25th to be
guaranteed to arrive on New Years Day.
What are your favorite New Year's traditions?
Book One
Amy Winters-Voss
Genre: Urban fantasy and Asian mythology
Publisher: Shy Red Fox Publishing
Date of Publication: April 30, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-7366720-0-6
ISBN: 978-1-7366720-1-3
ASIN:B08WTK6XWP
Number of pages:312
Word Count: 97,000
Cover Artist: Odette.A.Bach
Tagline: A myth come to life may be worth far more than his freedom.
Book Description:
Will a former gangster dare to protect the elderly woman who antagonizes him? He must choose between breaking a promise to his parole officer or the old lady. Each choice carries a hefty price.
Umeji Tatsuya moves from Tokyo to a small town after leaving the yakuza, the Japanese mob. He knows all too well that his past can't stay buried.
‘Once Yakuza, always Yakuza. The tattoos mark you for life.
Nakamura Hisako, the town’s beloved dowager, learns about Umeji’s past and tries to oust him, but Umeji just discovered her own long-held secret. If he keeps it for her, the cost is his recently regained freedom. If he doesn’t, Nakamura might have to leave her home, and he risks angering forces he barely understands… and barely believes in.
As the mundane and Spirit Realm intertwine, so do the modern-day and the Pre-Meiji eras. Centuries-old rivalries flare up again, and the past returns in the present. Umeji’s second chance is only the first step of his journey to discover myth, social redemption, and found family.
Rise is the first book in the Liminal Chronicles series.
Excerpt:
“To make things worse, yesterday I heard you’re covered in irezumi
tattoos. Nonogawa may be in the sticks, but we all know what that means here.”
I blink. Why are little old ladies so rude?
“Well? Are you?” she presses.
While I deserve the disdain, I don’t want my boss to take heat for me.
“Ma’am, the community respects Satou-san. I’ll do my best for his sake.”
She draws out the syllables. “You dodged.” As she crosses her arms, her
sharp eyes shift to a predatory glint. “If you won’t answer, roll up your
sleeve. I know yakuza ink when I see it.”
My head swivels. Satou, where are you? Make your vicious aunt heel. She’s
really causing my hackles to raise, but I don’t want to do anything stupid.
“Ma’am?”
In the Hiragi clan, I was good at remembering names, because the
alternative could be costly. What did Satou say her name was? Oh yeah—Nakamura
Hisako, the town’s beloved matriarch. When I was yakuza, I would have never let
a little old lady corner me. But I’m caught flat-footed because I can’t use any
of the in-your-face phrases that bubble up to get her to lay off. I haven’t
done a damned thing to her. What gives?
So, I take a deep breath. No attitude. “Nakamura-sama, it’s becoming more
common in the cities. People keep ‘em out of sight to avoid the stigma.”
As if I’ll tell this biddy the full truth. Later, I can scream rebellion
in gokudou drawl all I want. But her outburst is the proverbial piano hanging
overhead, threatening to crash down on the little hope I have in this town.
At twenty-four, I should have a high school diploma and a college degree
or employment experience. This is my only chance. Suck it up, Umeji. So, I bow
deep. “I apologize that my tattoos offend. If I could turn back time, I’d not
have done it. How may I help you?”
Harrumphing, she turns on her heel with the grace of a ballerina, leaving
me with some serious heartburn. Hiro, my big brother in the Hiragi clan, had
taught me to ferret out everything that seemed out of place. How does an old
lady move that fast?
When I finish stocking, I grab my baseball-style jacket with its
embroidered fox on black and gold silk and beeline it to Satou. Just my luck,
his aunt beats me there.
I wait behind her and examine my shoes. Faint reflections of fluorescent
lights show on the tile floor.
“That tattooed punk is bad for business.” She points, doubtless aware of
how rude she’s being. “He dares to flaunt his past wearing that rebel jacket,
instead of considering this store’s reputation. I’ve heard all manner of
rumors. Mark my words, Kazuo, people will stop shopping here.” Full-to-the-brim
grocery bags strain her arthritic knuckles.
While Nakamura’s concern is understandable, does she care that this
‘rebel jacket’ is the only one I own? I was fortunate someone dropped it by the
penitentiary after emptying my apartment. My fists clench, pulling on the
stitches from yesterday’s wound. Why does this town love her, anyway?
Amy is a former programmer turned author after her first trip to Japan in 2017. Now she writes Japanese myth-based urban fantasy to reconnect with the country and culture that captured her heart.
She lives in South Dakota with her supportive husband, two wonderful kids, a mellow old cat who adopted the family, and three wily and crazy ferrets.
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