310-324-6611
GVJCI
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Board and Staff
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Follow Us on Social Media!
    • Join Our Email List
    • Resources
    • Testimonies/PR
  • Donate
  • How to Help
    • Become a Friend of the GVJCI
    • Donate Your Car!
    • 2021 GVJCI Raffle Drawing
    • Shop on Amazon
    • Volunteer
    • Purchase a 2021 Calendar Ad
  • Seniors
    • TNK Online Classes
    • Online Smartphone Class
    • Food Distribution
    • Online Resources
    • Tomo Cafe | 友カフェ
    • Bento Program
  • Events
    • Adulting Workshop Series
    • Day Of Remembrance
    • Drive-Thru Restaurant Fundraiser
    • KonMari Method Workshops | こんまり®︎メソッドワークショップ
    • Oysters, Bites & Biiru
    • Tomodachi Online Baking Workshops
    • Virtual Matsuri >
      • GVJCI Virtual Matsuri >
        • Art Gallery
        • Entertainment
        • Food
        • Martial Arts
        • Scholarship Recipients
    • 2020 Online Art Show >
      • Artist Discussion & Performances
      • Artists A-H
      • Artists I-L
      • Artists M-S
      • Artists T-Z
  • Programs/Classes
    • Japanese Language School >
      • JLS Graduates
    • Manzanar Immersive
    • Youth >
      • Resources
      • TANOSHII Fun Camp >
        • Camper Registration
        • Testimonials
        • Camp Supporters
        • Activities
        • FAQ
        • Counselor Registration
      • GVJCI Scholarship
      • Boy Scout Troop 683
      • Boy Scout Troop 719
    • Sports >
      • Evening Optimist Club of Gardena
      • Sansei Baseball League
      • South Bay F.O.R Junior Sports Association
      • South Bay Youth Basketball
    • Arts/Music/Dance >
      • Bando Hidesomi
      • Hawaiian Music Class
      • LA Men's Glee Club
      • Meito Calligraphy
      • Mel's Ukulele Picking
      • Taiko
    • Health and Wellness >
      • Kokoro Yoga
      • Meditation & More Class
    • Martial Arts >
      • Gardena JCI Kendo
      • Gardena Judo Club
      • Gardena Kendo
      • Gardena Naginata
      • Shotokan Karate
      • Shorinji Kempo
      • Kyudo Renmei
    • The Bridge: GVJCI Heritage Center >
      • Book Club
  • Rentals
  • Blog
    • Blog Terms of Use
    • Want to write for us?
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Board and Staff
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Follow Us on Social Media!
    • Join Our Email List
    • Resources
    • Testimonies/PR
  • Donate
  • How to Help
    • Become a Friend of the GVJCI
    • Donate Your Car!
    • 2021 GVJCI Raffle Drawing
    • Shop on Amazon
    • Volunteer
    • Purchase a 2021 Calendar Ad
  • Seniors
    • TNK Online Classes
    • Online Smartphone Class
    • Food Distribution
    • Online Resources
    • Tomo Cafe | 友カフェ
    • Bento Program
  • Events
    • Adulting Workshop Series
    • Day Of Remembrance
    • Drive-Thru Restaurant Fundraiser
    • KonMari Method Workshops | こんまり®︎メソッドワークショップ
    • Oysters, Bites & Biiru
    • Tomodachi Online Baking Workshops
    • Virtual Matsuri >
      • GVJCI Virtual Matsuri >
        • Art Gallery
        • Entertainment
        • Food
        • Martial Arts
        • Scholarship Recipients
    • 2020 Online Art Show >
      • Artist Discussion & Performances
      • Artists A-H
      • Artists I-L
      • Artists M-S
      • Artists T-Z
  • Programs/Classes
    • Japanese Language School >
      • JLS Graduates
    • Manzanar Immersive
    • Youth >
      • Resources
      • TANOSHII Fun Camp >
        • Camper Registration
        • Testimonials
        • Camp Supporters
        • Activities
        • FAQ
        • Counselor Registration
      • GVJCI Scholarship
      • Boy Scout Troop 683
      • Boy Scout Troop 719
    • Sports >
      • Evening Optimist Club of Gardena
      • Sansei Baseball League
      • South Bay F.O.R Junior Sports Association
      • South Bay Youth Basketball
    • Arts/Music/Dance >
      • Bando Hidesomi
      • Hawaiian Music Class
      • LA Men's Glee Club
      • Meito Calligraphy
      • Mel's Ukulele Picking
      • Taiko
    • Health and Wellness >
      • Kokoro Yoga
      • Meditation & More Class
    • Martial Arts >
      • Gardena JCI Kendo
      • Gardena Judo Club
      • Gardena Kendo
      • Gardena Naginata
      • Shotokan Karate
      • Shorinji Kempo
      • Kyudo Renmei
    • The Bridge: GVJCI Heritage Center >
      • Book Club
  • Rentals
  • Blog
    • Blog Terms of Use
    • Want to write for us?

GVJCI Blog
ガーデナ平原日本文化会館ブログ

Osouji Before New Years

1/4/2021

0 Comments

 
By: Mika Matsumura, GVJCI Marketing and Social Media Intern
Picture
Picture

​Osouji is a Japanese custom that is typically done at the end of December. The word Osouji translates to "big cleaning/cleanup." Osouji is done before New Year's Day and is done to purify the home, work place, schools, and neighborhood. This custom was first seen as a purification ritual to symbolize cleaning not only one's house, but also the mind and soul. 
​
Osouji originated from another Japanese custom, known as Susuharai which translates to "Soot Sweeping." Susuharai is an annual ritual also performed in December that is symbolic when greeting the Shinto deities of the New Year. As seen in the images below, a team of people are cleaning the Matsumoto Castle. They use long bamboo sticks with brooms on the bottom to sweep the walls and clean the roof tiles. To tie it all together they hang a Shimenawa which a huge straw rope that are located on gates and the castle tower. The shimenawa acts and represents a barrier between our world and the world of the gods. The rope also prevents evil spirits from entering. These ropes are hung all year around at Shinto shrines, but specifically hung during this time by many businesses and homes.  

These historical custom of susuharai in Imperial Palaces traces back all the way from the Heian era. Later this custom spread to temples in the Kamakura period. By the Edo period, common people also took part in this annual cleaning of osouji. Another reason Japanese participate in the deep cleaning of osouji is to welcome the Shinto deity of the New Year, Toshigami-sama. Osouji must be completed before they can visit the shrine.  It is also seen as a purification ritual. Toshigami-sama is said to bring good luck and good health for the New Year. ​
Another Japanese word associated to osouji is "seiri" which translates to sorting items. For example to organize your closet.  Osouji is more than the home or shrines, but also the workplace and schools. In the workplace, everyone contributes dusting, scrubbing, and tidying up the area. The same is done in schools, students learn at a young age, the importance of cleaning.  There are many benefits to practicing osouji. Practicing osouji can help focus/clear your mind and even help develop a new/healthy habits. Of course it is difficult to clean and it is not a likable task, but it is one that must be done. It is easier to focus if you have a clean environment to work on. Cleaning your workspace will promote concentration and success. 
Picture
Although this Konmari Method Workshop is past the typical time of osouji, it is never too late to tidy up your home. Just was the saying goes, "New Year, New Me!" Join us in the New Year as we all learn a better way to declutter our homes by using the KonMari Method.  To learn more and register for this workshop, please click the button below. 
Click here to register for the konmari workshop
​

​https://jpninfo.com/36791
https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0000817/
​https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/life/home/osoji-japanese-cleaning-ritual-a00285-20190104
​https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/culture/susuharai-soot-sweeping-ritual-and-hanging-of-the-shimenawa-at-matsumoto-castle/
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    July 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016

    Categories

    All
    DIY
    Food And Recipes
    JA Culture
    JA History
    Japanese Traditions

    RSS Feed

Come and visit!

GVJCI's Mission and Vision

Our mission is to create a space to engage, share, and embrace the Nikkei experience and culture.

The GVJCI envisions a vibrant network and a welcoming space for all persons interested in Japanese heritage and culture where history and tradition are honored, people are inspired to create action and change, and cultural pride and respect for all humanity are promoted.




​

Contact Us

 1964 W. 162nd St., Gardena, CA, 90247  |     (310) 324-6611    |      info@jci-gardena.org
Office Hours: Mon - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM