Christmas and New Year’s Eve were very special to me this year, because both of them are celebrated in a very different way in Japan compared to how it is used to be celebrated in my home country. In Germany this period of time normally follows a more or less strictly given schedule. Before Christmas there are four weeks of preparation time called Advent. Due to the Christian-based culture of Germany that is a very contemplative time that, like Christmas itself, is mainly devoted to your family. In Japan I perceived Christmas more like party time, especially for younger people; and with Bounenkai during this time, somehow it felt like skipping Christmas this year and heading directly for New Year’s Eve party, at first.

I followed my principal’s suggestions how to celebrate New Year’s Eve in a traditional Japanese way. So in the afternoon of the 31st I started celebrating with a feast followed with some easeful time. Punctual before the turn of the year I had Soba for my well-being in the upcoming year (年越し蕎麦). Accompanied by the sound of the temple’s Silvester bells (除夜の鐘), I climbed all 1225 stairs to the Hagurosan Yunokami Shrine. And afterwards I made my way through the snow storm to end the night with some sake at the bottom of Tsurugajo castle.

When I was sitting next to my family members (they visited me here in Aizu) the next day and we were eating delicious rice cake in all kind of varieties at the parents house of my boss, I had to realize, that the atmosphere of New Year’s Eve in Japan is much more similar to German Christmas. So in the end it seemed to me like celebrating Christmas and New Year on one single day.

All the best wishes for this new year 2010!

新年あけましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願いします。

Frederik