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Nima-kai Oshogatsu Traditions

Happy New Year. 2021 Year of the Ox


Published: Jan. 6, 2021 Modified: Feb. 11, 2025

Submitted by: Michael Abe

明けましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願い致します。

Michael Abe has been producing and sending out Nenga jo 年賀状 (Japanese New Year’s cards) to friends and family since 1999 using sumi-e 墨絵 (Japanese brush painting) and the animals of the Eto 干支 (Chinese zodiac) often hiding the year into the painting. This year incorporates not only 2021 but 2020 as a special message after a tough year globally. Michael currently resides in Victoria, BC Canada. He fondly remembers an uncle and aunt receiving a stack of nenga jo delivered on New Year’s day during a visit to their home in Fukuoka Japan in 1988 and has been fascinated by nenga jo every since.
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This was submitted by Michael Abe for Discover Nikkei’s Nima-kai 2020-2021 Oshogatsu Traditions photo activity.

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明けましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願い致します。

Michael Abe has been producing and sending out Nenga jo 年賀状 (Japanese New Year’s cards) to friends and family since 1999 using sumi-e 墨絵 (Japanese brush painting) and the animals of the Eto 干支 (Chinese zodiac) often hiding the year into the painting. This year incorporates not only 2021 but 2020 as a special message after a tough year globally. Michael currently resides in Victoria, BC Canada. He fondly remembers an uncle and aunt receiving a stack of nenga jo delivered on New Year’s day during a visit to their home in Fukuoka Japan in 1988 and has been fascinated by nenga jo every since. 

Painting property of Michael Abe 2021


greeting cards nengajo (greeting card) New Year Oshogatsu sumi-e

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Nima-kai Oshogatsu Traditions
In conjunction with the Japanese American National Museum’s Oshogatsu Virtual Family Festival (January 3–8, 2021), Discover Nikkei compiled photos to share our global Nikkei community’s New Year traditions. We recommend you use the slides…
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