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Here’s what our bachelor writers ate over the New Year’s holiday in Japan

Krista Rogers
Jan 8, 2026
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New Year’s in Japan usually involves lots of food and special dishes, so how did our handful of single guys celebrate this year?

Japan
(bachelor • COK • food • meal • men • New Year's Day • New Year's Eve • Oshogatsu • single • SNJO)

Happy New Year from SoraNews24!

SoraNews24
Jan 1, 2026

Wishing a warm start to 2026 to our community of readers from around the world.

Japan
(COK • happy holidays • happy new year • Japanese New Year • Japanese New Year’s • new year • New Year 2026 • New Year's 2025 • Oshogatsu • SNO)

Ultra-premium matcha, koji rice mold star in Starbucks Japanese New Year’s Frappuccino and drinks

Casey Baseel
Dec 23, 2025

Starbucks Japan closes out the year with luxurious and innovative dessert drinks for the most Japanese holiday season of the year.

Japan
(drinks • Frappuccinos • green tea • gyokuro • Japanese Frappuccinos • koji • matcha • New Year's • Oshogatsu • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • sweets)

Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】

Elliot Hale
Dec 19, 2025

Higashiyama doll artisans deliver some festive holiday cheer alongside their more traditional Japanese lineup.

Japan
(art • Chinese zodiac • Christmas decorations • COK • culture • Gosho ningyo • interior • jimoto • Jimoto Plus • Kyoto • New Year's • ornaments • Oshogatsu • Shimada Koen • Starbucks • Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo • Tokyo • Year of the Horse)

More people in Japan quit sending New Year’s cards and many have started to regret it

Elliot Hale
Dec 19, 2025

With increasing numbers of people embracing nengajo-jimai and switching to digital equivalents, many now find they are left feeling empty.

Japan
(COK • culture • digital media • Futaba • Japanese tradition • nengajo • nengajo-jimai • nengajyo • New Year's • New Year's cards • Oshogatsu • survey • tradition)

Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month

Casey Baseel
Dec 18, 2025

Inbound tourism boom and Japanese New Year’s traditions are too much for the world’s most famous sushi town to handle simultaneously, request says.

Japan
(culture • food • Japan travel • Oshogatsu • overtourism • sushi • tourism • travel • Tsukiji • Tsukiji fish market)

Studio Ghibli holiday wreath adds a touch of Kiki cuteness and good fortune to your home【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Dec 1, 2025

A Ghibli take on a traditional Japanese New Year’s decoration.

Japan
(anime • Donguri Kyowakoku • interior • Kiki's Delivery Service • manga • New Year's • Oshogatsu • Studio Ghibli)

Have you ever noticed how much Totoro looks like New Year’s mochi? This plushie’s designers did, and the result is adorable!

Casey Baseel
Nov 24, 2025

Spirited Away’s No Face also gets into the Japanese New Year’s spirit with a special kadomatsu.

Japan
(anime & manga • cute • figures • Japanese New Year’s • kagami mochi • mochi • My Neighbor Totoro • No Face • Oshogatsu • plushies • spirited away • Studio Ghibli • Totoro)

Totoro, Spirited Away tenugui tapestries promise good luck at New Year’s, smiles all the time【Pics】

Casey Baseel
Dec 29, 2024

Traditional towels get playful Ghibli twists on symbols of prosperity.

Japan
(anime • art • Donguri Kyowakoku • interior • kagami mochi • manga • New Year's • No Face • Oshogatsu • Studio Ghibli • tapestries • tenugui • Totoro • towels)

Starbucks Japan releases cute new zodiac goods for Year of the Snake

Oona McGee
Dec 26, 2024

Bears and snakes come together for a special collection at Starbuckssss…

Japan
(animal Zodiac • cups • drinkware • Holiday Season • Japanese New Year • limited edition • mugs • new year • New Year 2025 • New Year's • Oshogatsu • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • year of the snake • zodiac signs)

Starbucks teams up with 165-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Snake decorations【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Dec 13, 2024

Higashiyama palace doll artisans turn their talents to Year of the Snake collection.

Japan
(art • Chinese zodiac • COK • culture • interior • jimoto • Jimoto Plus • Kyoto • New Year's • Oshogatsu • Shimada Koen • Starbucks • year of the snake)

Serpentine Winnie the Pooh Year of the Snake plushies, Mickey and Baymax daruma arrive in Japan

Casey Baseel
Dec 4, 2024

There may not be a Year of the Bear, but Eto Pooh is an annual tradition for Disney fans in Japan.

Japan
(Baymax • Big Hero 6 • Chinese zodiac • cool • cute • daruma • Disney • eto • Eto Pooh • interior • New Year's • Oshogatsu • plushies • Winnie the Pooh • year of the snake)

Top cosplayer Enako dons Year of the Dragon costume to celebrate the new year【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Jan 20, 2024

Also taps into another visual motif of New Year’s in Japan.

Japan
(anime • beautiful women • cosplay • cosplayers • Enako • manga • New Year's • Oshogatsu • Year of the Dragon • Young Animal)

Starbucks teams up with 164-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Dragon decorations【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Dec 11, 2023

Higashiyama artisans craft figurines, bells, and gosho ningyo dolls to ring in the new year.

Japan
(art • Chinese zodiac • COK • culture • interior • jimoto • Jimoto Plus • Kyoto • New Year's • Oshogatsu • Shimada Koen • Starbucks • Year of the Dragon)

Starbucks Japanese New Year’s Frappuccino: Too delicious to wait for January to drink【Taste test】

Casey Baseel
Dec 27, 2022

The ingredients of this Frappuccino, including kelp, don’t just taste great, traditional Japanese culture says they’ll give you blessings for the year to come.