Japan’s ‘nengajo’ New Year card tradition losing its charm
In Japan, sending New Year’s cards, called nengajo, was once an important tradition. People sent these cards to friends, family, and colleagues to share greetings and good wishes at the start of the year. However, this custom has become less common in recent years.
Many people have stopped sending nengajo because of social media and messaging apps. A survey shows that nearly 80% of former card senders stopped in the past five years. Digital messages are faster, cheaper, and easier than writing, buying, and mailing cards. Because of this convenience, many now prefer sending short online greetings instead.
Despite this change, some people miss receiving physical cards. They feel handwritten cards are warmer and more personal than online messages. To keep the tradition alive, some now send cards only to close friends or use cards to say goodbye to the custom while sharing contact details. Although fewer people send nengajo today, the tradition still holds meaning for those who value personal connection.
Source: https://eikaiwa.dmm.com/app/daily-news/article/japans-new-year-card-tradition-is-disappearing/6Trrdt_8EfCFBlf7UEF3cw |
