The Christmas wreath on the front door has been replaced with a traditional Japanese New Year’s decoration.  In Japan, it is a New Year custom to display, on the house entry door or on the porch, a special knitted rope made from rice straws called shimakezari. Special strips of zigzag folded white paper, called shide, are hung on rice rope, the result being one of the best-known Japanese decorations.

Happy New Year to all or as they say, “Omedito de go saru“, it being the year of the monkey ahead and all.  May 2016 bring success and happiness to all of good will.