Japanese New Year decorations

New Year customs in Japan are in many ways different from the usual European and Russian traditions. Their roots go back to Shinto, the country’s ancestral religious system, so the symbols and rituals of the New Year look different here than those of people who grew up surrounded by Christmas trees, tinsels and festive salutes.

Shintoism is a form of ancient natural belief centered on the forces of nature and the world. That’s why many New Year’s Day activities are closely related to natural cycles. For the Japanese, the beginning of the new year is not associated with the clock at midnight, but with the first sunrise on January 1, which symbolizes renewal and the beginning of a new life stage.

One such custom is captured in this photo album. It concerns the New Year decoration of houses and buildings. While in Russia the main symbol of the holiday is the Christmas tree, in Japan this role is performed by the kadomatsu – decoration installed at the entrance. The name translates as “pine at the gate” and reflects its purpose.

Traditional kadomatsu is created from pine branches, cut bamboo shoots, rice straw and woven ropes, as well as seasonal plants, most often flowering plums. Each component carries a certain meaning: pine is associated with longevity, bamboo with strength and stability, plum symbolizes beauty and hope. Rice and straw occupy a special place in Shinto ideas, associated with abundance, harvest and the designation of sacred space.

These elements are combined into a single composition or placed in a special container resembling a wooden barrel, and then installed at the entrance to the house, store or office.

For travelers, this is a rare chance to see not a stylized tourist symbol, but a living tradition that remains an important part of Japanese everyday culture.