Japanese New Year

Next year, 2026, is what animal zodiac?

• Year of the Horse

• Year of the Dragon

• Year of the Rabbit

• Year of the Tiger

A 'bonenkai' party is for....

• celebrating the New Year

• enjoying the success of the past year

• forgetting the troubles of the last year

• wishing health and happiness for everyone

A 'kadomastu' is...

• traditional Japanese decoration at New Year

• a decoration that welcomes ancestral spirits

• an ornament made from pine, bamboo and plum trees

• All of the above

'osechi' is food eaten at New Year. Which of the following sentences are true. (choose two)

• Comes from the tradition of women not cooking at New Year

• eaten only by adults

• are made sour, sweet or dried to keep without refrigeration

• is popular only in northern Japan

What noodle is eaten on New Year's Eve?

• tonkotsu ramen

• sanuki udon

• toshikoshi soba

• nagashi somen

'kohaku uta gassen' is a song battle on New Year's Eve between teams of which two colours?

• Red and Black

• Black and White

• Red and White

• Red/Black vs White/Black

'Otoshidama' are .....(choose 3)

• decorated envelopes

• gifts of money for children

• amounts of money given depending on the age of the child

• are given on birthdays

What is 'mochi'?

• rice porridge

• rice cake

• rice dessert

• rice crackers

On New Year's Eve the Buddhist temple bell is rung 107 times before midnight and how many times after midnight?

• once

• twice

• three times

• four times

"hatsumode" is a Japanese New Year tradition of...(choose two)

• first visit to the Shinto shrine of the year

• making prayers for the coming year

• a day to dress in kimonos

• a time to eat special food