Discussion

n the year 701 AD (by modern reckoning), the lunar calendar was imported into Japan from China and was in use continuously, with variations, until 1873 when the Gregorian calendar was adopted. With the new calendar, the first day of the year was fixed at January 1 each year. Under the lunar calendar, however, the first day of the year varied depending on phases of the moon. In 2022, for example, the first lunar day of the year was February 4 (on the Gregorian calendar). This year, it is January 22.

First Korea then China, also, adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1896 and 1912 respectively. But the lunar calendar remains important in east Asian culture and generally to Californians of east Asian descent, too. So much so that California has just made new year's day on the lunar calendar an official state holiday, to be celebrated for the first time on Jan. 22, 2023.

Regardless of when new year's day is celebrated, certain traditions remain unchanged.

Not all new year's traditions are as grand as the dragon shown above. Some are relatively simple home decorations.

Kagamimochi is made from two mochi stacked atop each other. Traditionally, the two represent Ying and Yang, the Moon and the Sun, or years that come and go. Completing the ensemble is often a tangerine placed on top.

A kagamimochi is traditionally hand made, but for city dwellers and others who may not have the proper equipment for mochi making, kagamimochi can be bought in stores. Some are encased in plastic, but there is real mochi inside that can be eaten. Tangerines can be substituted with other things. See my sketch of a kagamimochi in 15.2 that has a bunny (usagi) in top. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit.

A fully proper kagamimochi is placed on rice paper and supported by a wooden sanbō. 

Shimekazari

In the west, wreaths are often placed on home doors during the winter holidays. In Japan around new year's time, shimekazari are placed on doors of houses and businesses to attract and welcome the Gods of good fortune and ward away evil spirits.

Kadomatsu

Kadomatsu are three bamboo shoots of different lengths combined with pine and plum branches.

Kadomatsu

Kadomatsu are placed at entrances or in gardens and represent an abode of Shinto Gods, coming to bless humans. Bamboo represents prosperity and is cut diagonally. Pine represents longevity, and plum symbolizes constancy. Kadomatsu literally means pine door, but the pronunciation of pine (matsu) is the same as the pronunciation of the word for waiting. In the context of kadomatsu, pine branches mean "waiting for God." For that reason, the most important elements of kadomatsu are the pine branches, not the bamboo.

Artwork

Utagawa Kunisada (1786 – 1864)

Kunisada was the most popular and prolific ukiyo-e artist in the 19th century. His popularity far exceeded his contemporaries, Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Kuniyoshi. Though he did many subjects, his specialty was bijin-ga, pictures of beautiful people. The triptych below, done mid-century, shows women making mochi in preparation for new year's day.

Toshikata Mizuno (1866 – 1908)

Toshikata was active after the end of the Edo period when the ukiyo-e fad was mostly over. He studied under a series of masters before starting to work as an illustrator for Yamato Shinbun, a newspaper. He gained a reputation as a war artist during the Sino-Japanese War (25 July 1894 – 17 April 1895) with a series of lithographs. Among his commissions was a series of prints for the covers of literary publications. He eventually became a teacher and included women as his students. The print below is notable mostly for featuring a shimekazari.