The Tradition of “Kakizome” for the New Year: Origin, Meaning, and Words to Try!

Among the many traditional New Year’s activities, kakizome is a custom enjoyed by both children and adults. While preparing and cleaning up the tools might seem a bit troublesome, setting New Year’s resolutions or goals and sharing them with family and friends is a wonderful experience. In this article, we’ll explore the history and origins of kakizome and share some inspiring words you might want to try writing. Read on and immerse yourself in the Japanese New Year spirit!

What is Kakizome, a Traditional Japanese Culture?

Kakizome is one of Japan’s annual customs and a part of its traditional culture. Generally, it refers to the first calligraphy of the year using a brush, but it can also include painting.

Many children take part in kakizome as homework during their winter break from elementary school or as assignments at calligraphy schools. But have you ever wondered when kakizome began and what it signifies? Let’s revisit the details of this custom, which might be more unfamiliar than it seems.

The Origins of Kakizome: A Heian-Era Court Ritual

The origin of kakizome dates back to the Heian period as a court ritual called kissho no sou (吉書の奏). This practice involved presenting ceremonial documents to the emperor on auspicious days during milestones like the New Year, era changes, or imperial successions.

During the Kamakura period, this practice evolved into kissho hajime (吉書始め) under the samurai government, where such documents were submitted to the shogun. By the Edo period, the custom became widely known among commoners and developed into a New Year’s tradition of practicing calligraphy, spreading rapidly through temple schools (terakoya).

The Spirit of Kakizome Established in the Edo Period

Kakizome is a traditional New Year’s event where people write words of good fortune, poetry, or resolutions for the year in the year’s auspicious direction, channeling their hopes into their writing. The ink used for kakizome was traditionally made by grinding ink sticks with the year’s first-drawn water (若水 wakamizu) offered to the household altar (神棚 kamidana), expressing a wish to improve calligraphy skills through divine favor.

The high literacy rate in Japan, which astonished American Commodore Perry upon his arrival in the late Edo period, was largely influenced by the presence of terakoya and the custom of kakizome. Even young children who couldn’t write participated by drawing lines or pictures with a brush. These scenes of kakizome in terakoya are vividly depicted in Edo-period ukiyo-e prints.

Why is Kakizome Often Done on January 2?

January 2 has long been considered the start of work for the new year. For merchants, it was the day of the first shipment, and for farmers, a day to worship the gods of the fields and mountains. Today, this seasonal sense has faded, but many stores hold their first sales on January 2.

Kakizome is often done on this day as it aligns with the idea of declaring New Year’s resolutions on the first workday, believed to bring success to work or studies for the year. Additionally, many cultural practices, such as tea ceremony, shamisen, and calligraphy lessons, also begin on January 2, marking it as a day for first practice (hatsugeiko).

Completing Kakizome with the Dondo-yaki Bonfire

The writings created during kakizome are displayed until mid-January, then ceremonially burned in a dondo-yaki bonfire. This takes place during Koshogatsu (Little New Year), typically between January 14 and 16, with dondo-yaki held on January 15.

Common Themes in Past and Present Kakizome

The words chosen for kakizome have historically reflected the spirit of the times. Edo-period ukiyo-e prints show that people often wrote auspicious characters like “longevity” (寿), “crane” (鶴), or “hundred fortunes” (百福寿). Waka poems, including the one now known as Japan’s national anthem, Kimigayo, were also popular themes.

Suggestions for Kakizome Words in 2025

Selecting words for kakizome has no strict rules, but it’s customary to choose positive and uplifting expressions for the New Year. Here are some recommended words:

For Young Children (Hiragana)
 2 characters: ゆめ (dream), えま (charm), そら (sky)
 3 characters: ひので (sunrise), きぼう (hope), えがお (smile)
 4 characters: ともだち (friends), たいよう (sun), あおぞら (blue sky)

For Older Students (Kanji and Hiragana)
 2 Kanji characters: 希望 (hope), 飛翔 (soar), 努力 (effort)
 3 mixed characters: 富士山 (Mt. Fuji), 向上心 (ambition)
 4 or more characters: 謹賀新年 (Happy New Year), 一日一善 (a good deed daily)

For Adults (Four-character idioms)
一期一会 (cherish every encounter), 初志貫徹 (follow through with your first resolve), 順風満帆 (smooth sailing).

Kakizome: A Reflection of New Year’s Spirit

Through kakizome, we reconnect with traditional values and history, from Heian court customs to Edo-era cultural practices. Why not try writing your aspirations or inspiring words to welcome the new year with renewed purpose?