NEW YEAR’S DAY IN JAPAN. 
BY E. 
“ No festival is greater among us,” said my Japanese 
friend, Yamato, as we sat over our wine on the twenty- 
ninth day of December. “ Pray prolong your stay for 
a few days, and I am sure you will not consider it lost 
time.” 
“ I don’t care if I do,” I rejoined; “as I am here, it 
seems a pity to lose any of the sights, you know.” 
“You are aware, I suppose, that our festival extends 
through six days. During the first three the gentlemen 
call upon their friends, the others are monopolized by 
the ladies.” 
“ Our merchant friends over yonder seem very busy,” 
said I, pointing to a row of bazaar's open to the street, 
in each of which could be seen proprietor and clerks 
gravely employed with brush and counting frame. 
“ They are casting up the year's accounts. See that 
old man shaking his fist at an invisible foe? His 
balance is short, I will warrant you, and, from his 
threadbare appearance, it will be difficult for him to 
make up the deficit.” 
“See the complacent smirk on that shop-keeper's 
face ; he is a shrewd fellow, and has probably doubled 
his money. To-night he will go to the temple and give 
thanks to the kami (gods) for his great good luck. Ah! 
the New Year will soon arrive, and every one will be 
merry! Should you like to accompany me on my round 
of visits ? ” 
“Indeed, it would afford me the greatest pleasure,” I 
answered, “ for, doubtless, among your large acquaint¬ 
ance may be numbered some of the belles of the 
capital.” 
“ You shall see ! ” said Mr. Yamato, smiling. 
New Year’s Day dawned clear, cold, and beautiful. 
Fuji’s peak had donned a new head-dress of purest 
white for the occasion. As I drew aside the sliding 
door and stepped outside, my eye was caught by the 
quaint decorations all about me. 
On either side of the entrances, pine trees were planted, 
while in the centre of a cross-piece were a lobster, some 
charcoal, seaweed, and dried persimmons. All around 
the houses, just under the eaves, ran straw ropes from 
which fern leaves depended. These decorations are in¬ 
tended to remind the beholder of the primitive state of 
his country, when men lived simply and without luxury, 
to lead him to reflect really upon the beginning of all 
things. 
Shrill cries rent the air; the omnipresent small boy 
flew his new kite, and shrieked with joy, even while the 
frosty air nipped his finger ends, and made his eyes 
water. The maid-servant tripped along in her holiday 
robe, and stopped long enough to wish me the compli¬ 
ments of the season, and allow me to- observe the 
coquettish tie of her obi (girdle). Happiness seemed 
enthroned on every face, and care was apparently a 
stranger. 
Promptly at the appointed hour my friend arrived ; 
we ordered our jinrikishas and sallied forth. Every 
where festivity reigned ! The national flags floating 
from each building ; the people in their best robes and 
'. HO.N’JO. 
brightest girdles ; tho smiling faces of the little‘children; 
the grotesque appearance of the maskers, as they wended 
their way through the tluong ; the jugglers on the 
street cornel's; the gay uniforms of tho military, as 
they marched toward the Palace, the endless string of 
jinrikishas, kagos, and norimonos of every form, size, 
and color, made the streets gay and bustling beyond des¬ 
cription. Even the dogs seemed to have caught the 
spirit of the day, for they barked right merrily, and for¬ 
got to snap at each passer-by, as is their usual custom. 
The air resounded with “ 0 me-re-to ” (Happy New 
Year.) All Tokio became as school boys let loose for a 
holiday. With some difficulty we reached our destina¬ 
tion, one of those large mansions owned by a wealthy 
official. The entrance was decorated as usual and a 
card-receiver stood near by. Mr. Yamato explained that 
a casual acquaintance merely dropped a card therein 
and passed on, but said that he was on friendly terms 
with the ladies of the house. 
A smiling servant bowing repeatedly preceded, and 
ushered us into the ja-shi-ki (parlor). Here were many 
courtly-looking Japanese, all bowing and paying the 
compliments of the season to several very charming 
ladies, who, in their robes of black or light-blue silk 
heavily embroidered with beautiful flowers, with obi 
(belts or sashes) of fabulous worth encircling their' slen¬ 
der waists, with their heads crowned by the latest 
capillary fantasy of their hair-dresser, with their bright 
faces, beaming yet liquid eyes, and musical voices, 
made a beautiful picture. 
When they perceived us they came forward, were in¬ 
troduced to me, received our congratulations, and offered 
us each a cup of Toso (New Year’s wine, very sweet and 
highly spiced.) Then bringing us a portion of Zoni 
(New Year’s choivder), with many smiles and bows, left 
us to receive sundry other new comers. 
We chatted a few moments longer, then, making our 
parting salutations, took our way to other dwellings, 
where more compliments, wine and chowder awaited us. 
About four in the afternoon, we halted in front of a 
large dwelling, and my good friend said :— 
“This is my cousin’s house; here you may observe 
all that you wish, and I will explain everything to you.” 
Grateful for the privilege, I followed him into the 
mansion. After a little he led me to the to-ko-no-ma 
(raised platform), and bade me behold the “New Year’s 
Cake.” Upon a sambo (stand) covered with fresh white 
paper, and ornamented with a fringe of fern and bam¬ 
boo leaves, it reposed. It was about one foot in diame¬ 
ter, and was made of rice; upon it was a lobster, on 
either side of which rested a dai-dai or bitter orange, 
the whole surmounted by a branch of the matsu (pine 
tree), all of which I understood to mean— 
“May a long, well-rounded, and complete life be the 
portion of every generation of this house.” 
“ Do you eat this cake?” I inquired. “ Not yet,” said 
my friend. “ Each room in the house has a similar or¬ 
nament. One is offered to the gods. All are kept for 
fifteen days, but after that may be eaten.” 
