2026 nengajo drawing comes with a never-before-seen photo of the legendary anime director.
nengajo
With increasing numbers of people embracing nengajo-jimai and switching to digital equivalents, many now find they are left feeling empty.
Celebrate Japan’s most traditional time of year with the help of these famous anime characters.
People who didn’t win the official New Year’s greeting card lottery now have a new chance to win discounted or even free entry to certain hot springs.
Despite the fact that we’re entering the Year of the Ox, might as well start off with some fish.
Every year, dedicated post office workers hop on their scooters to deliver a nation’s New Year’s cards, and it’s so much fun to watch!
It’s terror-inducin’ good!
Earlier this year, we saw that Chanrio Maker is the easiest way to reimagine yourself as a Sanrio character. Now that the end of the year is approaching, it turns out you can use your own Chanrio to make the cutest New Year’s cards ever!
If you thought having to send a couple of Christmas cards to close friends and far-flung cousins during the holidays was annoying, wait til you get a load of the nengajo (New Year’s card) tradition here in Japan. Not only is one obligated to send nengajo to family and friends, but you’re also obligated to send them to co-workers, bosses, anyone who regularly provides you a service, anyone whom you regularly provide a service to, your landlord, your mother’s landlord, Crazy Uncle Jeb over at the asylum, the stray cats in your neighborhood, and your mortal enemy (just to let him know you’ve got your eyes on him).
In fact, you’ve gotta send these things to so many people, it’s not uncommon to drop by the Japan Post near you and see people purchasing stacks of hundreds of these things. And unless, like me, you avoid any and all human contact, you’ll probably also come home one winter day to find your mailbox stuffed to the brim with the things. So, given their ubiquity, it’s no surprise that Japan Post (who prints and distributes loads of nengajo every year through both their yubin-nenga.jp website and physical post office locations), occasionally tries to mix it up with some very nontraditional designs.
This year, bizarrely, the running theme seems to be… moe. As in those super-cute anime girls and dreamy, slightly effeminate anime guys who are all the rage in Japan.
MOST POPULAR
Today
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
Trigun Legacy Cafe coming to two Japanese cities this summer to salute series’ original form
7-Eleven Japan reinvents convenience store fruit sandwiches with new salty pink sakura peach variety
Starbucks adds new Fruit Gummy sweets to stores in Japan
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
7-Eleven Japan releases a chocolate chip sandwich… that tastes like ice cream
Starbucks Japan releases new “torori” drinks exclusive to 7-Eleven convenience stores
Burger King Japan offering all-you-can-eat quad-burgers, whoever eats the most gets more in December
Weekly
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations- New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
- Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Monthly
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha- Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]- Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
- Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Yearly
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Starbucks adds new Fruit Gummy sweets to stores in Japan
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
7-Eleven Japan releases a chocolate chip sandwich… that tastes like ice cream
Starbucks Japan releases new “torori” drinks exclusive to 7-Eleven convenience stores
Burger King Japan offering all-you-can-eat quad-burgers, whoever eats the most gets more in December
Pump yourself up with Yokohama’s new extravagant Cool Fuel ice cream
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
Gun found in Japanese convenience store restroom, traced to forgetful on-duty cop
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Godiva melts minds by releasing a new corn chocolate drink in Japan
This shop combines traditional Japanese sweets with…mayonnaise?!?[Taste test]
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Shinto shrine’s night sky firefly sweets are Japan’s newest breathtaking, mouthwatering desserts.
-
