Nenga jo

(this was written Jan. 2, 2011)

A Japanese New Year Card or “Nenga-jo”  (pronounced as Nenga-jou)  is like the Christmas card to many people around the world.

Since the New Year is the biggest celebration in Japan,  many people write their Nenga jo’s.

The cards are prepared and sent out earlier to make it on time for delivery on Jan. 1st.

The post office usually gives a deadline, this year, it was Dec. 25th – for those who wanted their cards delivered on the first day of the year.

If you are making your cards, be sure to have the word ‘nenga’ written or “stamped”  or use the prepaid New Year’s postcards issued by the Japanese postal office to distinguish New Year cards from regular mail.   There are also special ready-made “Nenga” cards available.

If you are mailing your cards before the New Year, remember to mail it with that Nenga stamp- or else the card will be delivered the next day after you mailed it.

In Japan, they only say- “Happy New Year” or greet each other – on January 1st and thereafter  -  (thus the Nenga stamp is so important.)  That is also why, we try to send our cards out before the Post Office’s deadline for delivery of New Year’s cards.

(Note: If you mail your cards that period –  all Nenga cards are collected for each individual, or address. The cards are delivered all around Japan at dawn of the January 1st .)

I enjoy waking up and going to our mail box in New Year – delighted to see about 100 cards from friends and family…

When I was new here, I did not know about that stamp or the special New Year cards-  I sent them out before New Year and my friends were surprised to get their Nenga-jo’s before the New Year.  :D

Not so long ago, each card was hand written with a special message for each recipient of the card.  It is nice to know that some people still do this.

Today, many people have their cards professionally printed or make them by themselves.

This year I sent out about 125 cards to my friends.   Before emails and Facebook existed –  I sent out about 300 cards yearly.

Greeting you for the year of the Rabbit!

The animals are based from the result of zoning time and direction into twelve blocks, corresponding to a name of an animal based on the ancient Chinese concept that all time shifts based on these twelve units.  Some people believe that those individuals born during a particular year were said to inherit some of the personalities of that animal.

I would like to share some  of our past New Year cards -

Can you guess what animal year?

 

Families with children usually have the pictures of their children in their cards.

While the others, like us, have our photos, or some art work.  How you make your card depends on your creativity and imagination.

I am so happy that my husband can create our cards every year.

Other cards may have a photo or art work of a beautiful sunrise, or Mt. Fuji or both.

The Japanese love using these symbols for the beginning of the New Year.

What matters most is that we send out our greetings each year to our beloved family and friends.

I hope you see how important the Nenga  jo is to the Japanese.

So, if you did not get a Christmas card, please wait for our New Year card, ok?

More about the cards and New Year -

This photo was taken from the TV news…

2 Billion, 81 million cards for delivery this 1.1.11

It says – 2 billion, 81 million cards will be delivered  on Jan. 1, 2011.  Compared to last year, it is 7 million pieces less because of the email and internet.

A special ceremony at the Japan Postal office is held early in the morning of  January 1st – to send of the postmen.

New Year cards are usually delivered until the first week of January.

Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu !