Kinga Shinnen! Happy New Year!

It's the start of a new year and a new decade!

The Japanese celebrate the new year on January 1st, the same day that we celebrate here.  Before 1873 the Japanese celebrated the new year on the Chinese Lunar calendar.  In 1873 the Japanese adopted the Gregorian calendar.  This is the same calendar that we use.

This is the nengajo I made for the year 2010.

It's a custom in Japan to send New Year's greeting cards called nengajo.  Nengajo are delivered on New Year's Day.  Most of these cards feature the Chinese zodiac sign of the new year.  2010 is the year of the tiger.

In 2008 I was very fortunate to be selected to take part in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund.  I was one of a group of 160 American teachers who were guests of the Japanese people and government for eighteen days during the month of June, 2008.  We were able to tour Japanese schools and stay with a Japanese family.  It was an incredible opportunity.

As we greet the new year I want to thank you for the opportunity to teach your children and be a part of your community.

Kinga Shinnen!  Happy New Year!