Its Christmas Day and last day to send my "Nengajo" ...

December 25th for Christians around the world is the celebration of Christmas Day. But here in Japan, a buddhist country, Dec 25 is known as the last day of sending out "Nengajo" so that post office ould deliver them on Jan 1st. "Nengajo" are postcards sent as a greeting for the coming New Year. The New Year or "oshougatsu" is very important to the Japanese and on this special occasion, they send "Nengajo" to express gratitude, or to keep in touch with thier friends, relatives, office collegues, teachers, et al. Although "Nengajo" can be send from early December, the post office stocks them and delivers them on January 1st.
Even until now, I always look forward on seeing nengajo at our post box in the morning of the new year's day. And as I write this blog, my minds tells me "Time to send your nengajo!".

(A sample of nengajo - front and back from http://item.rakuten.co.jp/maruraku/artbu-nenga-c01-s1/)

Here are some trivia on Nengajo (from All About Japan - except #5):

1. Nengajo often use the present year's zodiacal animal (eto) as the design. The animal of the year 2010 is the tigar (tora).


2. Unlike Christmas cards, nengajo shouldn't arrive before New Year's Day.


3. Nengajo, especially those purchased from Post Office are with lottery numbers or "otoshidama-tsuki nenga hagaki". issued by the Post and Telecommunication Ministry (yuuseishou). On January 15th, the winning numbers are picked and the results are announced the following day on television and in newspapers. The holders of winning numbers receive prizes. The prizes are not money. The first prize in a past lottery was a wide screen TV set, a car navigation system, and a washer/dryer. The second prize was a camera, a radio and a CD player. The third prize was a regional products gift pack, and the fourth prize was a collection of commemorative stamps.


4. The New Year's card postal system was set up as early as 1899, and otoshidama-tsuki nenga hagaki went on sale in 1949. Today more than 4.1 billion otoshidama-tsuki nenga hagaki are printed every year.


5. It is still acceptable to send nengajo until Jan 7th if you were not able to make it to deliver on Jan 1st or to send back to someone who sent you nengajo but you didnt send out.

Here's on how to write nengajo (from All About Japan):
Nengajo begin with set greetings. Here are some common expressions.


Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.明けましておめでとうございます｡ Happy New Year.

-Shinnen omedetou gozaimasu.新年おめでとうございます｡

-Kinga Shinnen 謹賀新年

-Kyouga Shinnen 恭賀新年

-Gashou -賀正

-Geishun迎春

-Tsutsushinde shinnen no oyorokobi o moushiagemasu.謹んで新年のお喜びを申し上げます｡


All expressions basically mean, "Happy New Year". You can choose any of them to begin your card. "Kinga Shinnen (謹賀新年）," "Kyouga Shinnen (恭賀新年）," "Gashou (賀正）," and "Geishun (迎春）" are seasonal words not used in regular conversation. The rest of the three expressions can be used as a greeting. Click here to hear the sound files for New Year's greetings.
After the greeting, add words of thanks, requests for continued favor or wishes for health. Here are some common expressions, though you can add your own words as well.

-Sakunen wa taihen osewa ni nariarigatou gozaimashita.昨年は大変お世話になりありがとうございました｡ Thank you for all your kind help during the past year.
-Honnen mo douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.本年もどうぞよろしくお願いします｡ I hope for your continued favor this year.
-Minasama no gokenkou o oinori moushiagemasu.皆様のご健康をお祈り申し上げます｡ Wishing everyone good health.