Nengajō are Japan’s traditional New Year greeting cards, sent to mark the start of the year with gratitude and respect. Once a near-universal custom, nengajō are now declining due to rising costs, digital communication, and changing lifestyles. Yet despite this shift, the tradition still reveals something essential about Japanese culture: how relationships are maintained, how years are “closed,” and why physical effort still matters in moments of transition. This article explains what nengajō are, why fewer people send them today, and why the custom has not disappeared entirely. What Is a Nengajō? A nengajō is a postcard sent to friends, ...
