Reflection on Shinshun Matsuri (Japanese New Year’s Festival)
by Khaliun Enkhbold
Shinshun Matsuri, or the Japanese New Year’s Festival, marks the beginning of the new year in Japan! They recently came to Arlington on January 26, 2025. SJA was honored to co-host this event alongside the Japan Commerce Association of Washington, D.C. (JCAW), Tanpopo Gakuen, and the Washington Japanese Language School.
The festival offered a wide range of fun activities for those of all ages, including calligraphy and origami, where they could create beautiful pieces of art, and traditional games such as sugoroku and karuta, bringing a cultural distinction. There were also many delicious food options, including takoyaki (fried octopus balls), dango (sweet rice dumplings on skewers), onigiri (rice balls), ramune (Japanese soda), and yakisoba (fried noodles). Each dish was made with love and care, also serving as a reminder of the comfort and deliciousness of Japanese cuisine. The festival fosters a sense of community, and friends and family gather to celebrate the coming of a new year together. It's a time of joy, reflection, and hope as people gather around, embracing the start of new beginnings.
One of the games you could play in Shinshun Matsuri is Daruma Otoshi.
Daruma Otoshi is a traditional Japanese game where you use a hammer to knock out wooden blocks from a tower without making the tower fall over. The game was created as a tribute to the Buddhist priest Bodhidharma, instilling the value and idea that patience and resolve can help you achieve great things. The top block of the worker represents Bodhidharma, who lost the use of his limbs after meditating for nine years. “Otoshi” means to drop, so the idea of the game is to drop Daruma to the bottom without him falling over.
Shishimai, commonly called the lion dance, is a traditional performance that plays a vital role in festivals. It involves performers in lion costumes (which symbolize strength and bravery) mimicking its movements to bring good luck and fortune. It is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring in a prosperous year, making it a prominent part of Shinshun Matsuri.
Shinshun Matsuri was an unforgettable event. It fostered a sense of community and invited those around the community to reflect on the past year and embrace new beginnings. This festival marked a new year, and through these exciting activities, food, and cultural performances, the people immersed themselves in the beauty of Japanese culture.