New Year s Day is a great occasion in Japan. All bills and other debts are paid well at least the really outstanding ones. No work is the rule apart from a few shops. People rise early, and many go to one of the big Tokyo shrines to pay their respects, later returning home to eat various traditional New Year dishes bean soup, toasted rice cake wrapped in seaweed, black beans and many other types of foodstuffs. During the day friends may pay a visit, badminton is played, and also a card game involving poetry.
Many women wear kimono usually their best one, which is sometimes very beautiful.
Really it is a day for quiet celebration with the family or friends. I spent my New Year s Day with two good friends Dr. Fujita and Mr. Hurahashi. Mr. Hurahashi s mother performed the Tea Ceremony, at least an abbreviated one, for my benefit. This ceremony, once per formed in China, but now confined to Japan. This cutting entitled End of an Era was found recently.