Get Your Japanese New Year Cards Ready!

While people in the West scramble to get their Christmas cards ready for Dec. 25, the Japanese have their own busyness as they prepare to send out a cadre of New Year cards.

Although it's true that many Japanese have adopted western habits such as sending Christmas cards, many still focus on the New Year as the central family holiday of Japan. The cards often depict traditional scenes and symbols from Japanese culture: sumo wrestlers or geisha. The beauty and delicacy of these cards is undeniable.