I randomly caught these high school boys walking down the sidewalk.
Most of our high school kids wear uniforms here in Japan, although not all. These kids are probably enjoying their winter break right now.
Today is the last day of work for many companies. I took a few days off so I wouldn't have to go back to work after Christmas, so I'm here at my parents place in Osaka right now.
We've been getting ready for the New Year by cleaning out everything in our house. It's like spring cleaning, except people in Japan always do this at the end of the year. We call it Nen-matsu O-soji (年末大掃除), which translates to "year end big clean up," and everyone in the family helps out. It's a lot of work but we do this so we can welcome in the new year to a clean house.
Oh, I like the mood in this photo!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Osaka, your family and your mom's food! ;)
I agree with The Wanderer above about the atmosphere. A magical time of day. It looks more like fall than winter but those trees are losing leaves even as I write. Ha ha.
ReplyDeleteEvery year I was totally gobsmacked at how New Year’s Day truly seemed new, fresh, and clean. A great custom you have in Japan.
I hope you enjoy family time and that great Osaka food that everyone talks about.
I agree Kaori, a clean house to welcome the New Year is always good, and the other thing is to have no unpaid bills.
ReplyDeleteI think uniforms are good, as I had a difficult time at school not wearing expensive clothes.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful time for you and yours.
It is very smart of y'all to have uniforms for students. I wish we had them. And I am loving finding out about all of y'alls traditions. I was already planning on spending the whole day Friday cleaning my house and it is very nice to know that I'll be joining with so many people to greet the New Year all clean and fresh!
ReplyDelete@Rurousha, thank you! You can be sure I will! ;D
ReplyDelete@TallGary, thank you! I hope you're enjoying the end of the year as well :D
@Grace, oh that's a good one! Yes, definitely! Especially since some banks close for a few days in the new year!
@Robert, yes I think that is one of the reasons we have school uniforms. Although many say that it kills the children's individuality, they seem to be doing fine indivisualizing their uniform ;D
@Rachel, when I moved back to Japan one of the most exciting things for me was to get to wear a uniform! It's great...no more standing in front of the mirror for 30 minutes, changing a million outfits, before heading to school. haha! Hope you have a good cleaning day on Friday ;D
Nice picture, you evoked fond memories of me and my pals doing the same thing... a long time ago!
ReplyDeleteI kind of like school uniforms though they are much debated everywhere.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, hope you are having a good time. My New Year's cleaning will be done when I take off all the Christmas decorations, not before Epiphany. I'll be away until then anyway so the first thing I'll do when I get back is clean!
@VP, thank you! I bet you had fun with your chums :D
ReplyDelete@Ciel, good luck with your cleaning when you get back! We have finally finished today...just in time! ;D
Lovely to be able to go home and have fun with the family.
ReplyDeleteHaha, my husband and I (both big fans of Japan) made a big cleaning before new year, not knowing it was common for Japanese ^^
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