Okinawa has three New Years? We introduce “Lunar New Year” and “Juulkunichi,” two essential annual events.

I am KONY, an “Shima Naicha”, (i.e. the people who moved from mainland Japan and lives in Okinawa) who loves Okinawa very much. It has been 10 years since we moved to Okinawa due to my husband’s job transfer.
It was the first New Year’s Day after being transferred to Okinawa. After returning home to my parents’ house to ring in the New Year and returning to Okinawa, I still saw “New Year’s Day Sale” banners at the supermarket. “Maybe they forgot to remove it?” I was wondering, but it was actually special sales information for the “Lunar New Year”.
Just when you think the Lunar New Year is over, on January 15 of the lunar calendar, “Juulkunichi,” celebrated as the “New Year of the Afterlife,” arrives.

Therefore, Okinawa has
・New Year’s Day (January 1)
・Lunar New Year’s Day (January-February)
・New Year’s Day in the afterlife (January 15 on the lunar calendar)

In this issue, we will introduce two essential annual events in Okinawa: New Year’s Day and the New Year in the afterlife. In addition to sightseeing, please enjoy the customs of Okinawa, which are different from those of mainland Japan.

What is “Lunar New Year” in Okinawa?

On New Year’s Eve, December 31, and January 1, the day of the New Year, families and relatives often experience gatherings to celebrate. Of course, Okinawa is also in a New Year’s mood on January 1, the day of the New Year, and celebrations are increasingly held in each household. However, some regions and families still have the custom of celebrating January 1 of the lunar calendar as “Lunar New Year” (commonly known as “Kyu-sho”).
Lunar New Year is an important event comparable to the New Year in the new calendar. In the Okinawan language, it is called “Sogwachi,” and some families gather together to celebrate it, making it a winter tradition.
Incidentally, in 2024, February 10 (Saturday) falls on January 1 of the lunar calendar. Because of the upcoming Valentine’s Day, there is sometimes a rather strange sight of chocolates and New Year’s items lined up in a row.

Why is there still a culture of Lunar New Year?

In Japan, where the new calendar (the solar calender) is the standard, many people are not familiar with the term Lunar New Year.
However, Okinawa still retains the customs of the Ryukyu Dynasty, when people spent time according to the lunar calendar, which is also associated with the harvesting of crops and fishing cycles. For this reason, many of the annual events and rituals handed down in the region are still held according to the lunar calendar.
One of the reasons why the new calendar came to take root in Ryukyu is due to the activities of the “New Life Movement Promotion Council” organized by the Ryukyuan government prior to the reversion of the Ryukyu Islands to Japan. As part of this movement, the “New Year Unification Movement” was undertaken to celebrate the New Year according to the new calendar. This initiative began in 1956, so as of 2024, less than 100 years have passed.
Therefore, it can be said that the custom of celebrating in the new year is more of a new custom for Okinawans.

Lunar New Year is cherished in Itoman City, a town of uminchu (people engaged in the fishing industry)

While the custom of celebrating the New Year has taken root, areas with a thriving fishing industry still value the lunar calendar, which is closely related to the ebb and flow of the tides.
Itoman City, located in the southern part of the main island, is a representative example of such a place. Itoman City is also known as the city of “Uminchu (people engaged in the fishing industry)” and on Lunar New Year’s Day, fishing boats are decorated with big fishing flags to pray for a big catch and safety at sea.

What is the New Year’s Day “Juulkunichi” in the afterlife?

After the Lunar New Year, “Juulkunichi” (16th day festival), which is considered the New Year of the afterlife, arrives. In Okinawa, the afterlife is called “Guso,” and Juulkunichi is celebrated as “Guso’s New Year”.

What is the origin of Juulkunichi?

There seems to be a number of theories as to the origin of Juulkunichi.
For example,
● The period between January 1 and 15, the New Year, is a sacred time for the gods. People do not visit the graves during this period to avoid impurity, and only visit the graves on the 16th to welcome the New Year.
● After losing his parents, a man prepared a feast on the moonlit night of January 16th and went to the grave. When he cried there, his father appeared to him before he passed away and he was able to communicate with him. He realized that this was a day when he could share with the people of his later life.
●On January 16, they offered a feast at the gravesite so that the ancestral spirits could celebrate the New Year. The family members who had separated from the family gathered together to comfort the ancestral spirits by playing the sanshin (Okinawan three-stringed instrument).

And so on. There are many other anecdotes about this event.

What kinds of activities on Juulkunichi do you do?

 Juulkunichi is an event held in many areas compared to Lunar New Year. On the main island, people make a modest Ugan (prayer to ancestors and gods) and report to Hinukan (god of fire) in the morning. After that, it is common to offer a plate with side dishes.
On the other hand, in remote island areas such as Miyako Island, Kume Island, and the Yaeyama Islands, there is a custom to celebrate Juulkunichi with more grandeur than on the main island. Many people who were unable to return home for the New Year or Lunar New Year’s Day return home for Juulkunichi.
Other families who have lost a family member and are celebrating Ju-ruk-ni-chi for the first time also visit the grave as “Mi-ju-ruk-ni-chi (first 16 days). Although people refrain from celebrating the New Year and the Lunar New Year when they are in mourning, Juulkunichi is often celebrated on a large scale, which shows the difference in customs between mainland Japan.

The “usanmi,” an offering to the Buddhist altar, is essential!

In Okinawa, “Usanmi,” or feasts, are essential not only for Juulkunichi, but also for “Gowan (the events for praying)” (Obon, the equinoxes, and Seimyesai, where all relatives visit the graves of their ancestors together). Unlike the “Osechi” prepared at New Year’s in many parts of Japan, Usanmi is a unique Okinawan dish prepared as an offering to the gods and Buddha. It is said to have originated in China, and is characterized by a menu of ingredients from “heaven, earth, and sea,” divided into squares and packed in a stacked box.

Usanmi is a set consisting of a pair of rice cake and a pair of side dishes. There is a rule to arrange odd numbers of rice cakes, such as 3 x 3 (9 pieces), 3 x 5 (15 pieces), 3 x 7 (21 pieces), and so on.
The menu for Okazu-jyu includes kamaboko (fish cake), kombu (kelp), simmered radish or burdock root, simmered pork tripe, and castella kamaboko. Castella kamaboko is a unique Okinawan fish paste made with plenty of eggs. It is popular for its soft elasticity and sweetness, and is often eaten on celebratory occasions as a good luck charm.

Note that the serving style and items to be prepared for usanmi differ for celebratory and mourning events. For Jujurukunichi, the rice cakes and fish cakes are all white, kombu (kelp) is used for the mourning, and the braised pork tripe is stuffed so that the back of the pig is on the top.

Even in the same country, Okinawa and Honshu have very different cultures and customs. In Okinawa, the customs of ancestor worship are still very strong, and may often seem even more intercultural.
However, every event is filled with the thoughts of Okinawans who have cherished their families and ancestors. When you visit Okinawa on your trip, please try not only sightseeing and marine sports, but also experience the unique customs and traditions of Okinawa.

Written by KONY
Translated by Rie