2020 Year of the Mouse!

Horoscope for the Year of the Mouse: here.

For other Animals: Here

お正月

This is one of the biggest holidays of the year in Japan! It goes on from January 1st-3rd and all schools and businesses have the day off. We will talk about it more in class, but you can celebrate the Japanese New Year holiday at home by participating in this "VIRTUAL CELEBRATION."

Let's Begin the Celebration!

1. OSHOGATSU song

Mo ikutsu neru to もういくつねると

Oshougatsu お正月

Oshougatsu ni wa, tako agete お正月には たこあげて

Koma o mawashite asobimashou. こまを まわしてあそびましょう

Hayaku koi koi oshougatsu. はやくこいこい お正月

2. ねんがじょう

Japanese send New Year's Cards called "Nengajou" to friends and family.

American Association of Japanese Language Teachers (AATJ) NENGAJO Contest Results: here

Now, try to figure out what the Chinese Zodiac animal for this year is. Click on this website for hints.

３．もちつき

MOCHITSUKI is to pound rice to make MOCHI (rice cakes).

Fastest Mochitsuki in Japan

MOCHI ice cream is getting popular in the U.S. that you are able to purchase anywhere, but you can make one at home, too.

POUND Rice yourself with this game!

4. おせち

OSECHI is food for New Year's Day. Traditionally it is packed in OJUU (special box) and each dish has a meaning to wish you a good year. The tradition has started in HEIAN period (794-1185).

Are you hungry now? Paint your own Japanese New Year's lunch box "osechi" here.

Click on the orange words ぬりえをはじめる to start.

5. かどまつ

KADOMATSU is a decoration for New Year's. It is made of bamboo, pine tree, and plum flower and decorated at the entrance of buildings to welcome the new year.

Pretend to shop for a "Kadomatsu" for the entrance door to your house. Check out this online catalog. Click on the one you like to see the price. The price comes after the "yen" sign (like a Y with two lines).

6. はねつき

HANETSUKI is a traditional game similar to badminton.

HAGOITA (Paddle) Market

A fun game to play on New Year's Day is Hanetsuki.

• Play against the cartoon character Doraemon at this website.

• Play a different version at this website.

7. はつもうで

Read an online MANGA about how Japanese go to a Shrine at the beginning of the New Year. Go to this website.

HATSUMOUDE to one of the most famous temple in Japan

8. おとしだま！

Read all about how much MONEY Japanese kids get in their OTOSHIDAMA for the New Year and what they do with it here. What do you think?

9. BEST OF ALL!!

This is the Kids Nifty web page from Japan. Click around on this page to see Nengajou, printable crafts, online games, etc. all about Oshogatsu in Japan!!!

How Do Japanese People Spend OMISOKA (New Year's Eve)?

How Do Japanese People spend OSHOGATSU?

New Year's Day Poem