年賀状(ねんがじょう) - nenga-jo (New Year's cards)

Nenga-jo are post cards that are used for New Year’s greetings. New Year’s cards generally have a set phrase such as Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu, Kinga shinnen, or Geishun, all of which mean A Happy New Year. In addition, there is also recent news or a brief New Year’s resolution. New Year’s cards also often have a picture of the eto of the New Year. The eto is the animal for the New Year that is designated by the junishi calendar. The junishi are the twelve signs of the Chines zodiac that are mainly used in reference to the year.

新年のあいさつが書かれた郵便葉書き。「明けましておめでとうございます」・「謹賀新年」・「迎春」などの決り文句に近況報告や新年の決意などを書き添える。背景に新年の干支(えと)の絵が描かれていることが多い。