8’s primary trio stops to pray for the New Year in the hatsumode tradition. Production I.G That series is returning this year, and we’ve already been treated to the first piece in the series.

The cover of the picture book "Picky to Pocky no Haiku Ehon: Oshogatsu no Maki" (Mainichi/Risa Koshiba) "Picky to Pocky no Haiku Ehon: Oshogatsu no Maki," written by Kozaburo Arashiyama and ...

Largely recognised as the beginning of the New Year since the 16th century — when the Gregorian calendar was first adopted — January 1 marks celebrations around the world but the ways are different.

Tonight many will go to temples or shrines, called “hatsumode.” At Shinto shrines, worshippers arrive from midnight through the next morning to express gratitude and protection for the new year.

Living in Hawaii, the traditions of the local people are so ingrained in many homes and you don’t need to be Japanese to practice many of the customs associated with the New Year.