年賀状 New Year's Cards

[becki_kanou]

Has everyone here living Japan-side finished their 年賀状 yet?

I was putting mine off for quite a while and finally finished more than 80 today! I still am waiting on addresses for another 5 or so people, but gosh it's hard work writing all those addresses. It's times like these that make me wish I'd spent more time improving my kanji handwriting. I'm embarrassed to see my chicken-scratch on the cards, but people are usually pretty forgiving.

[clay]

We sent our personal 年賀状 out yesterday (most of them to Japan, so maybe it will arrive around the right time )

[keatonatron]

I figure it will become more important once I start a professional career.

I've never sent 年賀状 before, and it seems that all my friends who are the same age haven't sent many either.

I've seen my teachers at school filling them out, and I get the feeling it's more of a professional obligation than a method of personal expression.

I'm thinking about sending one, though, to that "special someone".

[becki_kanou]

I figure it will become more important once I start a professional career.

I've never sent 年賀状 before, and it seems that all my friends who are the same age haven't sent many either.

I've seen my teachers at school filling them out, and I get the feeling it's more of a professional obligation than a method of personal expression.

I'm thinking about sending one, though, to that "special someone".

It's partially a professional obligation (I run a school and I send a card to each of my students, for example) but it's also done among friends and can be a good way to keep in touch with people you don't see very often.

[two_heads_talking]

I figure it will become more important once I start a professional career.

I've never sent 年賀状 before, and it seems that all my friends who are the same age haven't sent many either.

I've seen my teachers at school filling them out, and I get the feeling it's more of a professional obligation than a method of personal expression.

I'm thinking about sending one, though, to that "special someone".

It's partially a professional obligation (I run a school and I send a card to each of my students, for example) but it's also done among friends and can be a good way to keep in touch with people you don't see very often.

I had learned (been taught) that professionaly it was an obligation and "the appropriate" card was the most important part of that. I had also learned it to be a great networking tool, for those working their way up the corporate ladder, and for those looking for an in, the cards are a great way to traverse the social networking. And of coure family and friends, it's an easy way, as Becki mentions, to keep everyone informed and up to date on what's going on. Think of it like the yearly cards you get sometimes from folks that have the "what we did this year...." stuff on it..

I am amazed at the number of cards I'd see when I'd go to teh post office. Some people would have a bag full of them..

[becki_kanou]

I had learned (been taught) that professionaly it was an obligation and "the appropriate" card was the most important part of that.

Yup. There are a huge range of designs, from the very tasteful and elegant, to Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse etc.

Here's the one we sent

[chikara]

Has everyone here living Japan-side finished their 年賀状 yet?
..

I don't live "Japan-side" but I send a few every year to Japanese business associates. Posted the last week marked 年賀 so hopefully they arrive in time and are delivered on the appropriate day.

...... It's times like these that make me wish I'd spent more time improving my kanji handwriting. I'm embarrassed to see my chicken-scratch on the cards, but people are usually pretty forgiving.

Ditto. I receive xmas cards from Japan written in scratchy English so I don't feel too bad about my scratchy kanji. I feel it would be recieved worse if I wrote in English in the cards.

[tōkai devotee]

In Australia, there has been a huge increase in the number of e-Christmas cards sent out this year. This really annoys me, especially since you can't hang them on string around the house. Personally I don't like receiving them. I think it's lazy and I would never do it.
I'm wondering if the Japanese have taken to sending e-年賀状　? Or is the tradition of posting them still alive and well?

[becki_kanou]

In Australia, there has been a huge increase in the number of e-Christmas cards sent out this year. This really annoys me, especially since you can't hang them on string around the house. Personally I don't like receiving them. I think it's lazy and I would never do it.
I'm wondering if the Japanese have taken to sending e-年賀状　? Or is the tradition of posting them still alive and well?

I agree completely. I love getting Christmas cards and I keep them from year to year to decorate the house just as you mentioned!

[clay]

Here is our Nengajou for this year.

[becki_kanou]

Great picture Clay!

[clay]

Thanks!

It is kind of hard to see, but that snarl Makoto has in the picture is his 'smile.' When someone asks him to "smile" he does that. Here also.

[tōkai devotee]

可愛い！！
My son (5 y.o.) always says "What a cute little boy!" when he looks at Clay's avatar!!

[keatonatron]

Awesome, from now on when asked to smile I'm going to snarl.

[clay]

可愛い！！
My son (5 y.o.) always says "What a cute little boy!" when he looks at Clay's avatar!!

hehe. I really should update it. My two year old is now three and I also have a daughter now. I probably should squeeze her in there somehow.