New Years in Japan is usually a more family oriented holiday. Families will spend New Years eve together making Mochi (餅) and watching Kohaku Uta Gassen (紅白歌合戦). Mochi is a very sticky rice cake and is very popular around New Years. Kohaku Uta Gassen in a music show on NHK (Japanese broadcasting station) which features popular musicians split into two teams who compete against each other. The first team is the red team which is all female artists and the second team is the white team which is all male artists. Watching this show together is a more current tradition. During New Years it is also customary for Japanese families to send New Years cards (年賀状 Nengajo) to friends and co-workers. The Japanese New Years card is the equivalent to the American Christmas card. On the day of New Years it is also customary that adults give money gifts (お年玉 Otoshidama) to the children in the family. The amount of money given depends on each child's age. A trip to the local shrine is also a must on New Years. Families also often plays games on New Years day such as, Takoage (kite flying), Kona (top), and Fukuwarai (pin the tail on the donkey).
Here is a video showing you how to pray at a shrine:
Here is the correct way to pray at a shrine:
1. Put your offering of money in the box (does not matter how much)
2. Ring the bell once
3. Bow twice
4. Clap twice while thinking about your prayer/wish
5. Bow once
