Finishing Up the Year Japanese Style

Superstitions and rituals are all part of the tradition

A trip to the nearest shrine is part of the New Year ritual. Pictured here is Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine in Shimane prefecture. [Image: JH]

The New Year’s season in Japan is celebrated with a mix of familiar and unfamiliar customs. Having grown up with Guy Lombardo, Auld Lang Syne, and the crystal ball dropping from New York’s Times Square, one expects a party atmosphere. So in Japan, the countdown to the clock striking midnight is not much…