“They’re peaceful, they’re tranquil.” At the New Year festival people enjoyed music, food and had the opportunity to create a traditional Japanese new year decoration, Mochibana.

1 / 2 Show Caption + A “shimekazari,” or woven straw decoration, burns after being thrown into fire as part of the “Dondo Yaki” ceremony held Jan. 14 at Kanigasawa Park near Camp Zama, Japan.

When I was in my 20s, I came to the United States and got married and started my own family. I began making ozoni for my children and my wife every New Year’s at our home in Chicago. I don’t ...

How Japanese mochi brings communities in America together Despite an annual warning from authorities, a deadly New Year's trend continued in Japan this week as two people died after choking on ...

Kadomatsu is a traditional Japanese ornament used to decorate entryways of homes or businesses at the start of the new year By Annalisa Burgos Published: Dec. 30, 2023 at 12:39 PM PST ...

Jane Matsumoto’s family is so eager to eat their annual ozoni that they gather around the table at 2 in the morning, right after they’ve cleaned the confetti, streamers and champagne glasses ...