Written by a mindfulness tea teacher, Miki Sensei.
Of course, while traditions and customs vary widely through different regions and religions, one of the largest seasonal observances may be Christmas and the holiday season. This season holds significance for family and personal relationships and also presents a significant commercial opportunity.
This trend has notably influenced Japan. However, traditionally, the most significant celebration and seasonal milestone is unmistakably Oshogatsu (お正月), the New Year.
Translating Oshogatsu can be challenging because many Japanese people (including myself) feel that entering the new year encompasses at least three phases. And for the Way of Tea, this is also a significant milestone.
Most commonly, Oshogatsu refers to the welcoming of the new year in January, specifically the period from January 1 to 7 (or sometimes up to the 15th). In Japan, after enjoying Christmas decorations, trees, presents for children and loved ones, and parties, as soon as December 26 arrives, elegant traditional music, such as gagaku (雅楽), and koto melodies can be heard on the streets. This marks the beginning of the busiest and most festive New Year preparations for both households and businesses.
For many Japanese people, this is also the longest holiday period. We take a break from work, return to hometowns and family homes, gather with loved ones, and celebrate. It's a time to reflect on the past year, express gratitude, and set intentions and resolutions for the year ahead.
In temples across Japan, on the night of December 31, 108 temple bells are rung to dispel the old year's worldly desires, known as bonno (煩悩), marking the countdown to the new year. Many people visit Shinto shrines for the first prayers of the year, starting at midnight on January 1. Railway companies increase their train service through the night, and famous shrines and temples known for blessings are bustling with crowds.
At the end of the year, people eat soba noodles to mark the proper closure of the year and wish for longevity. At the beginning of the year, families gather around traditional osechi (御節), a collection of preserved foods prepared with prayers for health and longevity, along with ozoni (お雑煮) soup with mochi. We enjoy spiced medicinal sake called otoso (お屠蘇) and blended green tea called obukucha (大福茶) for good fortune and health, and we renew everyday items so that we may greet the new year with a fresh spirit.
In the world of tea, early January marks the time of hatsugama (初釜), the first formal tea gathering of the year. This celebration is held brightly and joyfully in tea schools and tearooms, where we celebrate this space and the ability to boil the first kettle of the new year, to make tea, and to share it with others. With a renewed spirit, we reaffirm our intentions for both practice and life, expressing these commitments to both our teacher and to ourselves.
It is worth noting that Oshogatsu on January 1 became common only after the Meiji period, as Japan began Westernizing and adopted the solar calendar. Historically, Japan long used the lunisolar calendar, which combined the cycles of the sun and moon and was based on natural rhythms. Under the old calendar, New Year's Day fell around February 3 or 4 of the modern calendar, corresponding to Risshun (立春) - the beginning of spring - and Setsubun (節分) - the day before Risshun, marking the season change - right when butterbur sprouts, daffodils, and plum blossoms begin to emerge from the cold winter snow. That is why the New Year is still symbolically associated with "early spring" in terms of the Japanese calendar.
Another classical New Year is associated with the winter solstice, seen as the most crucial seasonal milestone when the year's energy shifts. Astronomically, the winter solstice marks the longest night and shortest day of the year. In the philosophy of yin-yang and the Five Elements, this point of peak yin is also the beginning, as it signifies the start of longer days and the increase of yang energy. This return of sunlight is a profoundly meaningful moment of hope worldwide. Many cultures throughout history and across geographies have honored the power of the solstice.
So here I've shared three kinds of New Year: the Winter Solstice (in 2025, December 22), January 1, and Setsubun (in 2026, February 4).
You may have noticed that I used the word "milestone" many times. As the days flow, both consistently yet uniquely through the seasons, Japanese people have lived closely with these seasonal milestones. To pause, to reflect, to switch gears (to improve), consciously and in harmony with nature's rhythms... To me, this feels like wisdom passed down from our ancestors, something we can continue to embrace.
As a personal note, some say the point in a person's life when their energy changes most is their birthday. Since I was born in March, I make the most of every opportunity - winter solstice, New Year, Setsubun, and my birthday - to shift gears. And, in Japan, the fiscal and academic year generally begins in April, adding yet another opportunity for renewal. I wonder what cultural traditions you have in your country.
Further still, if we could hold on to the mindset that every day is a new year, and that each moment is not merely an extension of yesterday, but a meaningful milestone, then I aspire to live with that renewed spirit. I truly appreciate the opportunity to renew my heart and spirit.
No matter what day it is on the calendar, I hope the year ahead, including today, be filled with vibrant, healthy moments for you, your loved ones, and all living beings.
Written by:
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Miki Fujisaki, hibana to bloom founder, mindfulness tea facilitator/coach Website: https://www.hibana-to-bloom.com/ Instagram: @hibanatobloom |
Miki was born in Osaka and began her journey in Urasenke Chado while working as a Japan Airlines cabin attendant. During her time in London, she planned and managed Japanese cafes ("Matcha" and "Cha no Ma"), and after her return to Japan, she oversaw international project planning.
To deepen her understanding of spaces and relationships where individuals coexist, illuminate, and nurture, Miki studied coaching and facilitation. Currently, she holds tea gatherings and coaching sessions for individuals and companies in tea rooms, offices, online, and overseas. Her work is centered around the theme of interbeing, cultivating a sense of interconnectedness, mindfulness, and "here-and-now."