New Year’s Eve is called Ōmisoka in Japanese. Through the ages Japanese people have believed that the Shinto God, Toshigami will visit each household on New Year’s Day. Therefore, in Japan we clean the entire house thoroughly by Ōmisoka. Traditionally on Ōmisoka in Japan we prepareosechi for New Year’s, and we eat toshikoshi soba for dinner. Many people watch Kōhaku Uta Gassen or “Red and White Song Battles”.
