Months in Japanese. If the era is obvious, such as the current date or in relation to an upcoming event, the letter may be left off entirely, i.e. In this blog post, I’ve explained “kotoshi” and “hon’nen” in detail based on their kanji expressions. (and I’ll be glad to be your guide if you ever come and visit Paris while I’m there this year!). The Year in Japan Scheme is a fantastic opportunity exclusively for St Anne’s students to spend a fully-funded year studying and learning Japanese at the Japanese University of Economics, Fukuoka. You will after this free online lesson! The era name is what the Emperor is referred to posthumously. Cleaning. You need to learn these words to speak Japanese in the early stage of your study. LEARN MORE. In fact, Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of former Emperor Akihito and niece of current Emperor Naruhito, announced in September 2017 her informal engagement to her boyfriend of 5 years, whom she met at university. Other Programs from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign matching this criteria: CIEE. So, the question naturally arises: what is the difference between “kyonen” and “sakunen”? A traditional New Year in Japan wouldn’t be complete without osechi ryōri, beautifully presented food served in 重箱 juubako similar to bentō boxes. The days and months are frequently used in any conversation as well as the numbers. In English, we reference “spring cleaning” for the traditional … Understanding how to read a Japanese calendar is an important part of life in Japan. Greenery Day This day is marked to celebrate nature and give thanks to it. Japanese new year noodles. Names for the New Year in Japanese . These years can be counted with Japanese numbers plus nen 年, the word for counting years in Japanese, like this, see: ichinen 一年 (or 1年) One year. In fact, as per Article 4 of current Imperial Household Law, the throne may only be succeeded upon the current Emperor's passing. Grammatically, it is a noun. hon’nen wa yuki ga ōi desu – 本年は雪が多いです (ほんねんはゆきがおおいです)We have a lot of snow this year. “Kotoshi” is one of them. Japanese Language 2 (double) or Japanese Language 2A (single) The Body and the Extremity of the Senses: Through Japanese Literature, Performance and Media Arts; A module on Japanese history taught by MLaC or History. At Japanese universities, students receive four-year training leading to a Bachelor's degree. History says, until 1873, during the Meiji Era (1868-1912), celebration of the Japanese New Year was based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Those individuals born during a particular year were said to inherit some of the personalities of that year's animal. To refer to the reigning Emperor prematurely by their posthumous name is considered a faux pas. Kadomatsu are also a traditional New Year decoration. A new era – the former Japanese Emperor stepped down in 2019, The future of the Japanese Imperial family and the Japanese date system, Mongolian Gers: What they are and the Do’s and Don’ts of Ger Etiquette, White Day in Japan: Japan’s Complicated Second Valentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day in Japan: The Meaning of the Chocolate you Give, Seijin no Hi: What Happens on Coming of Age Day in Japan, Fugu Fish: The poisonous Japanese Puffer Fish you can buy online. Learn how your comment data is processed. The reason why the Japanese don't celebrate it is told that in 1872, there were intercalary months the new year became 13 months and the government found it hard today wage for 13 months to people, so Japan stopped using lunar calendar and switched to using solar calendar but it still is not sure if that was the reason Japan changed to use solar calendar. From these two kanji characters, we can understand that “sakunen” literally means ‘last year’ in Japanese. It is the much celebrated festive day in the year and is considered very important day in Japan. Modern Ja… Whether you’re traveling in Japan, or having a conversation with native Japanese speakers, these are useful words to know. Doing official paperwork in Japan – know your Japanese birth year! Showa Day is the first holiday of the Japanese year. Before the end of the year, Japanese people take part in an activity called “Osouji” – which … (Nenshi no go aisatsu o mōshiagemasu): Happy new year to you. You will after this free online lesson! As a little cultural aside, the reigning Emperor is referred to as Tennō Heika (天皇陛下 ‘His Imperial Majesty the Emperor') or Kinjō Tennō (今上天皇 ‘The Reigning Emperor'), not the era name. Special offers and product promotions. That’s right. In Japanese, however, many time-related nouns can also work as adverbs. I'm trying to make people feel the Japanese culture through teaching the Japanese language. Since 1876, January has been officially regarded as the "first month" even when setting the date of Japanese traditional folkloreevents (other months are the same: February as the second month, March as the third, and so on). Thanks for posting! The Japanese New Year celebration is called shogatsu, and New Year's Day is called gantan. The meaning of “kotoshi” is simple and clear, I think. I am really interested in Japanese culture and I have wondered what these second dates I’ve been seeing mean. And also, I will explain their difference and usages. The year 1989, for example, can historically be referred to as “Shōwa 64” or “Heisei 1” as Emperor Shōwa passed away on January 7th during the 64th year of his reign. In response to the Emperor's wishes and support from the nation, the Japanese Diet (parliament/congress) enacted a special one-off law in June 2017, allowing Emperor Akihito to abdicate. In Japanese, months of the year are also quite straight forward. I’ve always found this to be an interesting topic too. For example, the English word, “tomorrow”, can work as both a noun and an adverb. When an Emperor dies mid-year, that year can therefore have two names. 昨年 . Today we learned how to say Happy New Year in Japanese! New Year’s postcards and well wishes abound, and part-time helpers are hired to ensure delivery on January 1st. Or you can just enjoy the illusion that you have gone back in time! I'm an engineer and industrial translator. In Japan, you will most likely see that only the first character is used to represent the days of the week. Japanese Relative Year: English: Romaji [Pronunciation] Hiragana: Kanji: kyonen [kyonen] きょねん: 去年: last year: kotoshi [kotoshi] ことし: 今年: this year: rainen [rainen] らいねん: 来年: next year Japanese words for last year include 昨年, 前年, 去年, 旧年 and 先年. The New Year’s holidays are some of the busiest days of the year for post offices in Japan. Sakunen. Should the law be revised to once again allow women to ascend the throne? I feel like gaining new pure knowledge. While the Christian way of numbering years is commonly used in Japan today, a parallel numbering system for years based on the reigns of emperors is also frequently applied (see year converter above).. Year two. In Japan, greeting people with appropriate Japanese words is very important. A Year in Japan is a colorful journey to the beauty, poetry, and quirkiness of modern Japana book not just to look at but to experience." The purpose of this adjustment is to calculate the difference between the total salary or bonus tax withheld by the employer and the actual tax amount you have left to pay or be refunded at the end of the year. Like for example in newspapers or the business hours of shops, the Japanese usually use (月), (火), (水), (木), (金), (土) and (日). Under current law, only a male may succeed the throne and with a large number of women in the family, there is currently only one male heir, 14-year-old Prince Hisahito. School year. The Illinois Year-in-Japan Program offers students the opportunity to develop their Japanese language skills and expand their knowledge of Japan through the intensive language program and Japan studies courses in Kobe. It can work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence to say “this year” in Japanese. Or is the idea of a royal family simply outdated and irrelevant in modern society, and one that should be phased out, along with the Japanese date system? Let us know what you think in the comments! Japanese people would say “kotoshi” or “hon’nen”. 27 at present) in case you want to understand some event information or what is printed on some of your sightseeing tickets etc. They literally mean "Happy New Year" and "Congratulations for the New Year which is beginning". Before learning the myriad of ways to say Happy New Year in Japanese, it's important to understand the significance the new year has in this Asian country. School holidays in Japan consist of public holidays with both national and cultural holidays such as New Year, National Foundation Day, and Christmas.However, Japan also has unique holidays which aren’t celebrated elsewhere in the world. And it goes on and on until ni sen jyuu nana nen 二千十七年, or 2017年 … The official Japanese New Year is celebrated on the 1st of January according to the Gregorian calendar since 1873. https://www.sng.ac.jp/studyinjapan With SNG, study Japanese in the heart of Tokyo. ;) As a visitor, you basically only need to know that this system exists (well not exactly *need to*, but if you want to understand a little more about Japanese society), and perhaps the current year (i.e. I knew a tiny bit about Japanese years before, but not enough to really understand how it works. oh wow… now I’m lost! A YEAR IN JAPAN 2021-22 Would you like to spend a year in Japan? As the Japanese year always ends on December 31st, if an Emperor passes away towards the end of the year, the ascending Emperor's “first year of reign” will be very short. Thankfully, waiting to eat the mochi was not a big deal, as the highlight of that December 31st evening was the osechi-ryōri (お節料理). 250g soba (buckwheat) noodles 60ml tsuyu broth (available in most Asian grocery stores) 500ml water 1 bunch … Glad to be able to share this information. Experience both the timeless and ultra-modern while in Japan. The Nenmatsu Chosei (年末調整) is Japan’s Year-End Tax Adjustment for wage earners that is to be filed by January 31 of the next year. The year 2021 is the 3rd year of the reigning Emperor, so this year is therefore ‘Reiwa 3', commonly written as the first letter of the era name then year number, i.e. Happy New Year in Japanese: あけましておめでとうございます\( ω )/♥. The current Japanese year is 3? Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners. Months in Japanese. Off This means there are over twenty possible destinations, including elite public and private universities, as well as prominent regional institutions. The original nuance of the Japanese sentence is more like “snow is much this year”, but it can be interpreted as “we have a lot of snow this year”. So, for example, the Emperor during the Meiji era is now posthumously known as ‘Emperor Meiji'. St Anne’s College offers the following exclusive opportunity for its students! In this blog post, I will explain these two words in detail based on their kanji expressions. Every year, Japanese households send and receive New Year’s postcards called nengajō (年賀状). Just as it is in dozens of countries, Jan. 1 is a national holiday in Japan. The celebration of the traditional Japanese New Year is still marked on the same day as the contemporary Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese New Years. The counting of Japanese years follows the Gregorian calendar with the year starting on January 1st and ending on December 31st, yet it would be a rare occurrence that the death of an Emperor conveniently conforms to these dates. If you post your cards in Japan before the cut-off date in late December, the postal service guarantees to deliver them on January 1st. Have a look below to see what year and animal you are. This kanji means ‘year’ in Japanese. I’ll trust you there! In 1873, the Gregorian calendar was introduced to Japan. Oh I see. “Kyonen” vs “sakunen” Compared to “kyonen”, “sakunen” sounds much more formal. Wow, that’s really interesting. Year three. In Japanese, months of the year … Former Emperor Akihito, who is now in his 80s and had been Emperor of Japan since his father, Emperor Hirohito (Shōwa), passed away in 1989, expressed his desire to retire via a television address to the nation in August 2016, citing his declining health over recent years (which has included heart surgery and being treated for prostate cancer) and worry over being able to continue with his duties, all be they largely ceremonial. Diaries often have one in the back for easy reference, and most Government offices will have one behind the counter to help you out if necessary. This is a very common way Japanese people wish others a Happy New Year before the New Year begins. Let’s get started! Wait…what? Japanese words for year include 年, 年間, 年度, 暦数, 年期 and 年年. Large urban areas such as Tokyo offer plenty of opportunities. Just as it is in dozens of countries, Jan. 1 is a national holiday in Japan. Simply add the Japanese numbers of 1 to 12 in front of 月 to form the months from January to December respectively. The Japanese new year is celebrated for the first three days—or up to the first two weeks—of ichi-gatsu (January). Jessica Korteman is an Australian travel writer, based in Tokyo, Japan. New year in Japan is celebrated on a grand note just like in other important places. First of all, to understand Japanese dates we need to understand the Japanese year, which in 2021 is actually 3. Fortunately, the Emperor doesn’t change very often, so most of the time you only need to remember to just keep counting +1 at the start of every New Year, just like the Gregorian calendar we are used to. Teaching jobs. One World 365 - offers the chance for 18-30 year olds to work or volunteer in Japan during the summer, winter or for an entire year. It wasn't until 1868 that this “one reign, one era name” was adopted. First year. But this system often brings a strong seasonal sense of gap since the event is 3 to 7 weeks earlier than in the traditional calendar. The Japanese school year in Japan begins in April. Cheers! Below are the new words used in the example sentence. The next term starts around July 20 and the final term begins in early January and ends in March. In addition, women are expected to give up their royal status if they marry a commoner, an obligation not extended to their male counterparts. The New Year in Japan is called お正月 (o-shougatsu) and it actually extends from January 1st to January 3rd. It’s officially celebrated from January 1 st through the 3 rd, but traditions and celebrations of 年末 (nenmatsu), or the year’s end, can begin as early as the beginning of December. The name of the new era is “Reiwa” and was officially decided upon and announced on 1 April 2019, one month ahead of the ascension of the new Emperor to allow authorities and businesses time to prepare their paperwork and computer systems for the date change. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of “kotoshi” through the detailed kanji check above. More people died from suicide in Japan in October than succumbed to Covid-19 all year. Unlike seasons and weekdays, and just like Japanese months, years in Japanese rely Japanese numbers and a counter to work. The first day of January became the official New Year’s Day since five years after the Meiji Restoration. Japanese-style pop up Christmas greeting cards come in a variety of designs, showcasing some of the most famous buildings and sights Japan has to offer – including Mt. The month 月 here is read as gatsu (not getsu) when it is used for months of the year. Tokyo Japan, Arts and Sciences. Adopting an Imperial Chinese principle, the Meiji Constitution of 1889 banned women from ascending the Chrysanthemum throne, the first time in Japanese history. Thanks for this insight on Japanese years. This is the first time this has occurred in modern Japan's history, the last being 200 years ago. The days and months are frequently used in any conversation as well as the numbers. This means that as of 1 May 2019, Japan ushered in a new era, and therefore the Heisei era ended in H31. With the interchanging of dates, it's not always easy for Japanese people to remember all of them either. So, “kotoshi” can be used as both a noun and an adverb. お正月 (o shougatsu), or New Year’s, is one of Japan’s biggest holidays. The first column has the Japanese year, the second is the Gregorian calendar year, the third the animal of the year according to the Chinese zodiac, and the last is the current age of a person born in that year. Happy New Year in Japanese: あけましておめでとうございます\( ω )/♥. For Wage Earners. This is a kind of trait of time-related nouns in Japanese. So, it is very similar to “kotoshi”, but they are not the same. Osouji – ritualistic New Year cleaning. Be careful for the pronunciations for April, July and September. Japanese Translation. Thanks, Ashley! Whether you’re traveling in Japan, or having a conversation with native Japanese speakers, these are useful words to know. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. However, specific events that fall on a set date can only have one year. The system is easy to follow once you know about it and certainly helps clarify all those historical references, event posters and train tickets ;). Good on you to be able to find your way in those calendars and different dates! The Scholarships: Five (TBC) scholarships are available to spend a fully paid for year in Japan from late-September 2021 to mid-July 2022. To understand the difference, let me explain the kanji characters of “hon’nen” in detail. kotoshi – 今年 (ことし) : a noun meaning ‘this year’ in Japanese. Next, then, let me explain the definition and meaning of “hon’nen”. Wait…what? Do you know the Japanese words for the months of the year? Christmas cards are a popular tradition to send to friends and loved ones during this festive time of the year, and Japan has some of the most creative and beautiful cards. While Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1873 i.e. This is a trait of Japanese time-related nouns, but not unique to the Japanese language. During this time, businesses and schools close, and people to return to their families. So while such a year itself can historically be referred to by two era names, a particular date such as date of birth can only have one. In a formal situation, it is appropriate to say yoï otoshi o omukae kudassaï ( 良いお年をお迎えください ). Today we learned how to say Happy New Year in Japanese! Both mean ‘this year’ in Japanese, but are not the same. During this time most businesses in Japan are shut down and people are spending time with their family and attending events like … Constitution Memorial Day May 3, 1947, is the date the current Japanese constitution was proclaimed. Each Emperor is designated an era name (gengō) which commences the day the Emperor ascends to the throne and ends on the day of the Emperor's death. The Illinois Year-in-Japan Program offers students the opportunity to develop their Japanese language skills and expand their knowledge of Japan through the intensive language program and Japan studies courses in Kobe. “What year were you born in Japanese years?” they will ask. The cards are sent to friends and family, as well as to people you have work connections with. ;), it definitely sounds overwhelming the first time you hear about it but you always make those funny facts interesting and easy to read about! (before the year ends) – 良いお年を。 よいおとしを。 Yoi o toshi o. Great Info! Number 2: ★ The Japanese word for two years is 2 年間 (にねんかん – ninenkan). LEARN MORE. 2021 is year 3 of the Reiwa (令和) era, from 1 May 2019. As it marks the beginning of a new year, it is observed as a significant day. When referring to a particular date(s) in a year with a change of Emperor, you would determine the era by whether or not it falls before or after the Emperor’s death. Year 3. So when in Japan, don't be confused that the year is missing two or three digits or that your friends have children born in the year 1. Never without a pen and paper, you'll most often find her delving into the world of festivals and culture. Remember, practice makes perfect! In Japan, the adoption of the twelve-year cycle, with a different animal representing each block, is fairly common. Do you know the Japanese words for the months of the year? Honestly speaking, however, this sentence is too polite as an expression for snow. Overview of holidays and many observances in Japan during the year 2021 Haha It sounds a little overwhelming when you first hear about it, but it is really logical once you familiarize yourself with it, trust me. How to say happy new year in japanese – Other phrases: 年始のご挨拶を申し上げます. What an interesting and informative article! 9. Copyright © 2017–2021 Japanese Particles Master All Rights Reserved. Japanese New Year… – Use the Happy new year phrases in Japanese such as 明けましておめでとうございます, 今年も宜しくお願いします or 今年も宜しくお願いします! History says, until 1873, during the Meiji Era (1868-1912), celebration of the Japanese New Year was based on the Chinese lunar calendar. The current Japanese year is 3? At least that was the case before 24 hour convenience stores and supermarkets. In addition, usually, household items are often associated with memories. :) But don’t worry, I’ll still happily be your guide when you come to Japan. Unlike Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese New Year, Japanese celebrate their New Year on January 1. New Year is the most widely-celebrated holiday in Japan (yes, even more so than Christmas which isn’t even a public holiday in Japan). Japanese people believe that starting a new year in a fresh and clean state will bring good luck for the whole year. The Heisei era is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of Emperor Akihito from 8 January 1989 until his abdication on 30 April 2019. Below is the new word used in the example sentence. 2021 is year 3 of the Reiwa (令和) era, from 1 May 2019. Whether the current custom of women of the Imperial Household losing their titles due to marriage and being excluded from ascending the throne will be phased out or not, what is clear is that the Japanese Imperial family and the Japanese calendar is here to stay at least for a good while yet. A quick glance at a conversion table will clear things up. 32 Gap Year Programs in Japan. ‘3'. Thanks for reading! Have a happy New Year! To understand this word more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one. Other families, or those from big cities themselves, may decide to take advantage of the string of days off and go on vacation for a few days. In many cases, kanji characters tell us a lot about meanings of words they form. 3 Reviews. In December 2017, it was officially announced that then-Emperor Akihito would abdicate the throne on April 30, 2019 and his son, Crown Prince Naruhito would immediately succeed him on 1 May, 2019, bringing the ‘Heisei' era to an end. While their houses are being cleaned thoroughly, all of the bad things from the old year will also be swept away. Prior to the Meiji Restoration, women of the Imperial family could become Emperor of Japan, and in fact Japan has had eight periods of female Imperial reign – six female Emperors, two of which reigned twice. While the Gregorian calendar is also used in Japan, the traditional Japanese system demands that dates be referred to according to their era, and in fact, it is required for most official paperwork. the one that says this year is 2021, the Japanese date system of designating years as era names based on the reign of Emperors still remains in place and runs concurrently along with the Gregorian system. Let me start with the definition and meaning of “kotoshi”. atarashii gakunen ga hajimaru 新しい学年が始まる A new school year begins. In reality, however, it can also be used as an adverb and inserted almost anywhere in a sentence to say “this year”. Do you want to live and study in Japan? The auxiliary verb, “desu”, is added to have the same degree of politeness in the sentence. This is the 8th time a woman of the Imperial Household will be giving up her title to marry since WWII. Pick up some postcards from the shops or make your own to send your own New Year… Unlike Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese New Year, Japanese celebrate their New Year on January 1. New Year’s in Japan. In Japan, the New Year isn't just another holiday, it is widely considered the most important holiday. The Heisei era started on 8 January 1989, the day after the death of the Emperor Hirohito, when his son, Akihito, acceded to the throne as the 125th Emperor. It would be considered very impolite to publicly anticipate the passing of the country's figurehead ahead of time! But if you are residing in Japan, it is always useful to know your date of birth in Japanese years. The announcement of former Emperor Akihito's abdication has also called into question whether reform is necessary for the carrying on of the Imperial family as a whole. 昨年 noun: Sakunen last year: 前年 noun: Zen'nen preceding year: 去年 noun: Kyonen last year: 旧年 noun: Kyūnen old year: 先年 noun, adverb: Sen'nen last year, few years ago, former years, formerly: Find more words! Kohaku (紅白) is a Japanese word comprised of the kanji for red and white. No Rush Promotion. Below are the kanji characters used in “kotoshi”. Japan’s Most Unique Internships: 49 Options. Other Programs from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign matching this criteria: The New Year, in particular, is the most important time of the year in Japan, equal to the Christmas or the yuletide season in the West. Browse programs that match your interests. They get more days off than us! Our innovative methods that combine language classes and cultural immersion will give you the confidence to speak Japanese inside and outside the classroom. Kohaku Uta Gassen, commonly just called Kohaku, is an annual holiday special produced by NHK. Due to some personal financial troubles on her fiance's family's side, however, their official engagement and wedding ceremony, which were to take place in March and November of 2018 respectively, were delayed until 2020, and now remain up in the air amid the coronavirus pandemic. This traditional Japanese New Year food is … Find more Japanese words at wordhippo.com! The programme has been in existence since 1999 and, to date, over 116 scholarships have been awarded. And actually it is. You can improve your Japanese vocabulary with our flashcards. English teaching jobs are one of the main sources of employment for native English speakers in Japan. Convert a Japanese era date like Showa 14 into a Western year, or convert a Western year like 1964 into a Japanese era year. For example, when getting your Japanese driver's license or filling out forms at the City Hall, they are not interested in your Gregorian calendar date of birth. Pioneering Gap Year Charity, Project Trust gives you the opportunity to volunteer in Japan for 12 months. Knowing your Japanese birth year will likely only ever come up if you live here and, in the end, that is only one number to remember. You can only say this before the clock strikes January 1st, 12:00AM. From these two kanji characters, we can understand that “kotoshi” literally means ‘this year’. It's all very simple, without major surprises: Yeah one. When we meet new kanji expressions, we should check their kanji characters in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. If you're a British national under the age of 24 (in the year you wish to study in Japan) with 12 years of school education, you can apply for Japanese Government MEXT Undergraduate Scholarships. I’ll be glad to have you as our guide when we make it to Japan! In contrast to other East Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Korea and Mongolia, Japan has almost completely forgotten the Chinese calendar. This year in Japanese: “kotoshi” or “hon’nen”, explained based on kanji, Example #1: how to say “this year” in Japanese, Example #2: how to say “this year” politely in Japanese, Urusai is the Japanese adjective for ‘noisy’ or ‘loud’, explained, Woman in Japanese: on’na, josei, or on’nanohito, explained in detail, How to make nouns from adjectives in Japanese, explained, Konbanwa is the Japanese greeting for ‘good evening’, explained, Omoshiroi is the Japanese adjective for ‘funny’ or ‘interesting’, explained. In accordance with Japanese customs, Hirohito was posthumously renamed "Emperor … Read More…. We also learned another common expression that Japanese people use when wishing each other a Happy New Year, 今年もよろしくおねがいします。 Number 1: