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Mochi, osechi, New year money and others. It's the time of many Japanese traditions, new year's day.
We were able to interview a foreign studentwho spends his new year in Japan for the first time.
Eric Woninck is from the Netherlands and 17 years old.
He has been in Japan since august and is living at a hostfamily in Obu-*** and he is going to Obu Senior High school every day.
Eric heard a sing from Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki at the age of 14 it made him interested in Japan so he started studying Japanese by himself.
-How did you spend the Japanese new year? At new year's day the whole family came together...
...we spoke a lot and ate together and I also played with the children.
-Did you eat Osechi-ryõri? Yes I did, it was very good.
-Did your hostmother make it? Yes my hostmother and my hostsister made it.
-How did you spend new year's eve? New year's eve was very different from the Netherlands.
-What was so different about it? The Japanese new year's eve was very quietly...
...instead, the Dutch new year's eve has a countdown as main point after the countdown everyone starts partying.
-In the Netherlands they hug each other and are really happy saying "Happy new year!" and they start partying.
It's different here, and that's why Eric felt lonely.
And that's why we gave him a big hug. Haha!
- Is there anything else you noticed about the Japanese new year?
In Japan there is no firework. I was really thinking like "Huh? I can't hear any firework.."
Today we also went to a temple with Eric and his hostfamilyto pray for luck.
A tall blond guy like him is easily being noticed and there was someone who called him.
-I can't speak English That's ok I can speak Japanese.
-Nagoya Dialect too? Sure.
When you pray, you have to bow two times, clap two times and then bow once again.
-What did you pray for? I can't tell you that, right?
Eric wants to learn a lot about the Japanese culture and that's why he's actively joining a lot of regional events. 25 00:03:43,566 --> 00:03:49,353 One person came to us showing a photo from an event in october at this temple. We can see Eric on it.
-You're right in the middle!
Are there any things you would like to do while being in Japan?
- Uhm. I'd like to learn a lot about the Japanese culture. I think that's most important.
Eric is planning to visit other places of Japan, such as Nagasaki and Hirosima, in his school holidays.