Hi everyone! Happy New Year!

Thank you for reading our article again in 2023! It’s Mafuyu from Goods Republic!

This is the very first article of the year! So, it’s our yearly theme! I want to explain about a traditional Japanese New Year and how we enjoy it in Goods Republic! I will report with many pictures!”

【Happy New Year!!】
Just being with anime goods makes it twice as happy!
Let’s enjoy a traditional Japanese New Year holiday with your anime goods!

2023 is the year of the rabbit!
Rabbit goods are the lucky items for 2023!

2023 is the year of the rabbit in Japan! The Japanese zodiac consists of 12 different animals, numbers and directions. It originated from the Chinese astrological system divided into 12 blocks. In 2023, the rabbit rules the year in Japan. The rabbit is treated as important and lucky in 2023. Some famous manga artists posted rabbit related illustrations on the New Years’ Day!

So, you may find rabbits in the pictures from Goods Republic members! Rabbits for good luck in 2023! Please remember it. There might be something good for you!

Sumptuous traditional cuisine for New Year!
Let’s enjoy the special dishes!
Are you wondering why we eat this?

The Japanese eat special traditional cuisine during New Year holiday. This sumptuous Osechi dishes are an essential element of a traditional Japanese New Year. We usually prepare the dishes around the end of the year and eat Osechi between January 1st and 3rd, and enjoy sharing it with families or relatives!

It looks like our members at Goods Republic enjoyed eating Osechi this year! If you look at the pictures closely, you will find the same ingredients and different ingredients. Every family has their style of Osechi and choice of ingredients! Do you want to know why?

There are some standard ingredients that are considered as must-haves for Osechi because they are auspicious!
Uncommon ingredients are probably just preferred food for the family.

There are various theories, but the origin of Japanese Osechi cuisine is thought to be to celebrate/appreciate the God(s) for having another season (year) or to appreciate the God of the kitchen to take a rest for 3 days during the New Year holiday.

We usually start cooking small portions of many dishes for the family around the end of December. The amount of dishes have to last for 3 days for the family and guests. The special dishes are put in lacquer boxes. While Osechi is shared and eaten with family, no one has to cook so that everyone can just relax and even the God of Fire does not have to work in the kitchen!

The standard ingredients for Osechi are egg rolls, shrimp, and beans. Each dish is to wish for longevity, good health, being able to work hard, and so on. Various dishes have meanings!

Since the family has to eat Osechi for 3 days, they can add some of their preferred food/dishes in Osechi so that they don’t get sick of eating the same things! You can add any of your family’s favorite food. You can see some salmon, steak, ham, pickles, and more in the pictures!

Visiting shrines to greet God!
Shrines are the place to go in Japan for the first 3 days of New Year.

Hatsumode is one of the most important events during the New Year’s holiday in Japan. It is your first shrine/temple visit of the New Year to greet the God(s) and make a wish and pray for the good fortune and health of the year. The Japanese usually visit nearby shrines or famous shrines during the first 3 days of New Year.

Many people gather at shrines during this time of the year! Some of the famous shrines get very crowded so that shrines have to ask people to come at different hours for infection control. It is common to wait in line for over 1 hour to pray at the main building of shrines. You may find food stalls (Pictures below are a non-alcohol warm sweet sake and a warm dish) for people in line.

I enjoyed the New Year with my favorite character, Tokiya. We bumped into Shishimai (Lion Dance for fortune) and enjoyed traditional sweets made of Mochi!

This year, I also tried Kakizome. Kakizome is a Japanese term for the first calligraphy written at the beginning of a year, traditionally on January 2. I wrote “Ichinose Tokiya” in Kanji and Katakana. I wished strongly for our happiness in 2023! (I think I wrote it well!)

What are you wishing for 2023? I hope your wish comes true and you have a wonderful year! All our members of Goods Republic enjoyed this holiday and relaxed well. We are now ready to work hard!! Best wishes for 2023!

Okay, that is all for today!

I will see you in the next newsletter! See you soon!