To secure good fortune for the coming year, the Japanese decorate their homes with shimekazari (decorative rope), Kagami mochi (rounded rice cakes) stacked on top of each other and kadomatsu (gateway pine). As traditions prevent individuals from working in kitchens for the first three days of Oshōgatsu (New Years), many households rush to stores for last-minute groceries to finish osechi ryōri, a Japanese traditional meal in bento boxes consisting of herring roe (Kazunoko) and umami wraps (Kombumaki).
In addition, homes are cleaned of any debris and dust to remove any of the past year’s reminisces. As soon as year-end cleaning is over, families gather around to eat a bowl of toshikoshi- udon, or toshikoshi-soba. This is a tradition that originated from the Edo period, and people believe that the noodles breaking off easily with each bite symbolizes the “break” from any hardships from the previous year.
Additionally, the length of the noodles symbolizes health and long life. Lastly, the Japanese will head over to shrines such as Tokyo’s Meiki Shrine to listen to joya no kane, which is the ringing of a temple bell 108 times to represent the cleansing of every earthly sin.