In Japan, greeting people with appropriate Japanese words is very important. The New Year, in particular, is the most important time of the year in Japan, equal to the Christmas or the yuletide season in the West. So, knowing how to say Happy New Year in Japanese is probably the most important phrase you can learn if you plan to visit this country, which is steeped in social custom and norms. Show
Japanese New Year BackgroundBefore learning the myriad of ways to say Happy New Year in Japanese, it's important to understand the significance the new year has in this Asian country. The Japanese new year is celebrated for the first three days—or up to the first two weeks—of ichi-gatsu (January). During this time, businesses and schools close, and people to return to their families. The Japanese decorate their houses, just after they do a complete house cleaning. Saying Happy New Year in Japanese can involve giving good wishes on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1, but they can also cover greetings for the coming year that you might express until mid-January, and they can even include phrases you would use when reconnecting with family or acquaintances after long absences. How to Say Happy New Year in JapaneseUse the following phrases for saying Happy New Year on Jan. 1 through Jan. 3, and even up to the middle of January. The transliteration for the following phrases, which mean "Happy New Year," is listed on the left, followed by an indication as to whether the greeting is formal or informal, followed by the greeting written in Kanji, the most important Japanese alphabet. Click on the transliteration links to hear how to correctly pronounce the phrases.
New Year's CelebrationAt the end of the year, on Dec. 31 or even up to a few days before, use the following phrases to wish someone a Happy New Year in Japanese. The phrases literally translate as, "I wish you will have a good new year."
Seeing Someone After a Long AbsenceAs noted, the new year is a time when family and friends reunite, sometimes even after years or decades of separation. If you are seeing someone after a long period of separation, you should use a different Japanese New Year's greeting when you see your friend, acquaintance, or family member. The first phrase literally all translates as, "I haven't seen you in a long time."
The following phrases, even in formal usage, translate as, "Long time, no see."
To reply to Gobusata shite imasu use the phrase kochira koso (こちら こそ), which means "same here." In casual conversations—such as if a friend is telling you Hisashiburi!—simply repeat Hisashiburi! or Hisashiburi ne. The word ne (ね) is a particle, which translates roughly into English as "right?" or "don't you agree?" Cite this Article Format mla apa chicagoYour Citation Abe, Namiko. "How to Say Happy New Year in Japanese." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/happy-new-year-in-japanese-2027849 (accessed December 6, 2022). Most cultures have annual customs and celebrations revolving around the new year, and I thought I’d touch on some of the many traditions surrounding the new year in Okinawa, Japan, also known as Shogatsu! Before the New Year in Okinawa, JapanWhile most of the celebrations and traditions take place on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, in Okinawa, some of them begin much earlier and continue well into the new year. For example, it’s customary to decorate a few days before the new year begins using kadomatsu (ornamental decorations to place outside the home or business) and shimekazari (wreaths that are hung above door posts) made of pine, rice straw, and/or bamboo. These also typically contain items that are considered to be auspicious, such as oranges (a way of symbolizing multiple generations and a long family line in Okinawa), or plum blossoms (symbolic of the spring to come and new life).  Another tradition that begins a bit before the actual new year in Okinawa is known as o-souji, which literally means “big cleaning.” Similar to the American “spring cleaning,” this is a time to purify one’s house and/or workspace to make them ready and fresh for the new year. Before the new year arrives, it’s customary to send out nengajyo, or New Year’s cards. The post offices in Okinawa are often very busy during this time of year because of this, though apps and e-cards to make your own nengajyo are becoming more and more popular. The cards often have the zodiac animal for the new year in addition to wishes for prosperity and health. This is a wonderful way to let friends and family know that you’re thinking of them as the new year arrives, just as westerners often do during the Christmas/holiday season. New Year’s Eve in Okinawa, JapanNew Year’s Eve in Okinawa, Japan is a time for family and friends! Many may travel to their hometowns to be with family during this time, and others host parties and celebrations with food and games. There are a few popular television programs that air annually on New Year’s Eve as well! Some of these include Kohaku (a New Year’s Eve music show that divides popular musical artists into competing teams) and Gaki no Tsukai (a variety and comedy show that includes a segment where the participants are put into silly situations and must try not to laugh – if they laugh, they are hit on the behind with a bat, which often makes the rest of the participants laugh).
At midnight, it’s customary to visit a local shrine or temple to literally ring in the new year, in addition to giving thanks for the protection of the previous year and to pray for a prosperous year to come. The Buddhist temples ring the bells 108 times at the stroke of midnight to welcome the new year. Many Okinawans drink a cup of awamori to toast the new year and visit Shuri Castle for chohaigokishikia, a New Year ceremony with dancing and bright colors. New Year’s Day in Okinawa, JapanHatsuhinode is the first sunrise of the year, and it’s customary to wake up early in order to watch the sun come up for the first time in the new year. Often, mountaintops and beaches are packed with people, as these locations offer beautiful views of the sunrise. We are lucky to live in Okinawa, because a beautiful view of the sun rising over the water is just minutes (and for some of us, seconds) away! It’s a good thing there are several Starbucks shops nearby for an early morning energy boost because New Year’s Day is a huge day for shopping! Likened to Black Friday, January 1 is a good day to find deals at your favorite shops. While many shops offer store-wide discounts from January 1-5, one of the main draws during this time is known as fukubukuro. Fukubukuro is known as lucky bags – they are basically surprised bags with goods inside. Usually, the bags are sealed to keep the contents a secret, though basic descriptions are provided so you at least know the general type of product you’re purchasing. Sometimes, sample bags are even displayed so the purchaser has an idea of what to expect! We’ve seen fukubukuro at grocery stores, bakeries, mall shops, and even designer suit stores! The bags range in price, depending on the shop and the contents. The price is set for each type of bag, but you won’t know what exactly you purchased until you unpack the contents after returning home. Typically, the bags have multiple items inside and the price you pay is a fraction of what you would have paid for the items separately. We really lucked out this year with what we bought! It’s exciting to have a mall nearby, and we found fukubukuro at many of our favorite shops. After purchasing a few lucky bags, we returned home to unwrap our surprises. We tallied up the total cost of what we spent versus the total worth of the items, and found that we only spent about 1/3 of the total worth! What a deal! Fukubukuro goodies: great deals on some things we’ve been wanting for a while! These are just a few of the many New Year’s traditions we’ve encountered so far in Japan, though I know there are several others! We wish you a happy new year, regardless of where you are and hope that you enjoy your annual customs and traditions! How do Japanese people say Happy new year?Wishing a happy new year in Japan: from January 1st
Starting January 1st, Japanese people let go of “良いお年を” (yoi otoshi wo) and start saying あけましたおめでとうございます instead. This one is read “Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu”.
Are Okinawans different from Japanese?Locals in Okinawa speak a different language from the standard Japanese spoken in mainland Japan. The language is known as Uchinaguchi and is spoken by older Okinawans while younger Okinawans speak Japanese.
How do you say cheers in Okinawan?Karii (かりー)
We have “cheers”, “salute” and “kanpai” (乾杯), and so many more worldwide. In Okinawa, you say “karii” (かりー) when raising a glass and toasting.
What does Hai Sai mean?“Hai Sai” is a universal Okinawan greeting that means good morning, good afternoon and good evening.
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How do you say Happy new year in Okinawan?
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