On New Year's Eve, many Japanese people visit temples and shrines to celebrate and welcome the New Year. Jyoya no Kane is the gong you often hear in Japan during this time. It is struck 108 times to remind us that humans accumulate 108 obstacles or sins during life. Each time you hit the gong at year-end, one of them disappears. I visited a small Zen temple near my apartment in Tokyo to hit the Jyoya no Kane. You can see me in the picture, looking oh-so-serious getting rid of my sins!

Shichi Fukujin, the Seven Gods of Fortune, are Japanese mythical gods who bring different types of good fortune to us. For example, Daikoku is the god of wealth, Hotei is the god of health, Benzaiten is the goddess of knowledge and beauty. Particular temples enshrine particular lucky gods. It is believed that if you visit all the seven gods at the beginning of the year, you will be healthy and wealthy. I took advantage of my being in Japan at the first year and made all 7 visits. It is such a fun thing to do. At each temple, you can buy one of the Fukujin figures and ask the monks to seal the figure’s name. At the end of visiting seven temples, you will have a full set of seven figures and seals. I’ve included a photo of the figures I collected. The last time I spent the New Year in Tokyo was about 25 years ago!!

And you cannot forget the special food! It is another tradition to eat Soba noodles on New Year's Eve to foster a long life. Then on New Year's Day, you eat very special food called Osechi. This is a picture of Osechi.

May this New Year be a happy and prosperous year for everybody.

Masahiro

Shichi Fukujin, the Seven Gods of Fortune, are Japanese mythical gods who bring different types of good fortune to us. For example, Daikoku is the god of wealth, Hotei is the god of health, Benzaiten is the goddess of knowledge and beauty. Certain temples enshrine particular lucky gods. It is believed that if you visit all the seven gods at the beginning of the year, you will be healthy and wealthy. I took advantage of my being in Japan at the first year and made all 7 visits. It is such a fun thing to do. At each temple, you can buy one of the Fukujin figures and ask the monks to seal the figure’s name. At the end of visiting seven temples, you will have a full set of seven figures and seals. I’ve included a photo of the figures I collected. The last time I spent the New Year in Tokyo was about 25 years ago!!