How to wish a Happy New Year in Japanese and some Traditions

Today I invite you to discover the different ways to wish a happy new year in Japanese and some traditions :

The most evident way to translate "happy new year" in Japanese is :

しんねんあけましておめでとうございます
Shinnen akemashite omedetō gozaimasu

To translate this expression in detail :

• しんねん shinnen = new year
• あける akeru = begin, exemple : としがあける toshi ga akeru = start a new year
• おめでとうございます omedetō gozaimasu = congratulations

Replay new year wishes :

ことしもよろしくおねがいします

Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu

• ことし kotoshi = this year
• も mo = also
• よろしくおねがいします yoroshiku onegai shimasu = sentence polite which means thank you for your consideration

As often in Japanese, there is a shorthand way to say this set of sentence. We take the beginning of several syllables : shinen AKEmashite OMEdetō gozaimasu, KOTOshi mo YOROshiku onegai shimasu, which will turn into あけおめ！ことよろ！Ake ome, koto yoro ! this expression is very familiar so be careful when using it.
more formal way to start the new year よいおとしをおむかえください Yoi otoshi wo omukae kudasai which means = I wish you a happy new year

• よい yoi = good
• おとし otoshi = year
• むかえ mukae = meet, greet
• ください kudasai = please

Now I propose to tell you about some traditions :

• お と し だ ま otoshidama : it is small envelope given to children for the new year containing some money.
• は つ も う で hatsumode : first shrine visit.
• Each throw money/coins into a designated box "さいせんばこ saisen bako" and pray for a happy new year.
• It is also common to buy a "おみくじ Omikuji" kind of horoscope written on a piece of paper which can announce happiness may be not. When the prediction is bad, it is a custom to fold up the strip of paper and attach it to a pine tree.
• ねんがじょう Nengajō : greeting card for the New Year. It is possible to write itself in calligraphy New Year's wishes, it is mandatory to deposit these cards in the mail before December 25 order to be received by the recipient on January 1, exactly.