Japanese New Year = a lot of eating. There is a lot of traditional foods that must be consumed. These are referred to as Osechi. Osechi is a lot of different kinds of food, that are a bit sweet tasting. Such things like mashed sweet chestnuts mixed with sweet potato (BEST THING EVER!), black beans, a mix of veggies in a sweetened sauce...ect. At midnight you have to eat a New Years soba dish. In the morning you have to eat a special New Year mochi usually served in a miso soup broth.
After New Year's eve dinner, the family sits down together to watch a lot of TV. There is a TV show called Kohaku which is a singing competition between singers split into Red or White teams. The singers are from all over the singing categories, pop and enka ect. There is also tributes to people or events that happened during 2012 though-out the show. It's the most popular TV show on New Years.
New Year's is also a time for family together, and for one to visit as many family members as possible. At each persons house you end up eating something or drinking something. The next day the families will often go to the local shrine and pray for good luck in the New Year.
Than for the kids and other people that you want to give one to, there is otoshidama. Otoshidama is a money gift. It's usually at least 5000 yen per gift. So, I am sure it can get very expensive if you have a lot of people to give it too.
One must also send out New Year Cards. But unlike in the states where you send Christmas cards to family and close friends, in Japan you send it to anyone that you have worked with in the last two years, friends, family and anybody that helps you out a lot. My friend here sent out about 70 cards this year. Each card also has to include a personal message.
On the second of January everybody goes shopping. There is great deals at all department stores (30 - 50% off). There is also a discount bag that you can buy at most stores called a fukubukuro. You have no idea whats in the bag, so its really hit and miss, but its kind of fun to find out what you got.
