the Day of Beginnings

Today is ことはじめ (koto hajime) – the Day of Beginnings. Growing up in Japan, we would do our かきぞめ (kakizome) on this day. It was winter break homework from school: to write the First Calligraphy of the Year. The assignment was usually four or five characters, something connected to the New Year.

This Day of Beginnings always felt a bit controversial to me. New Year’s in Japan isn’t just one day; it’s a whole period. Before the Gregorian calendar came in 1873, it followed the lunar calendar and could last up to fifteen days or more. Even after, Shōgatsu stretches from January 1 to at least the 7th, with families gathering, shrines full, and shops closed until January 3 or 4. So it felt like the perfect excuse to do absolutely nothing—and yet, on the second day, we already had to “start” everything again. Practice cello, start studying, begin all kinds of tasks…

Now I’m used to beginning on the second day of the year. I’m lucky that I’m almost always free on New Year’s Day, but I’m very aware of all the people who do have to work, especially in the cultural sector. In this modern era where shops stay open 24/7, 365 days a year, it’s so easy to get used to convenience and take it for granted. All the more important, for our mental wellbeing, to stand still and notice the changing of the year, the seasons, and nature. Even though it’s an artificial, man-made marker (what we might call a "calendar construct"), let’s gently celebrate these moments as a chance to reflect on the past, present, and future.