Universal
Cultural · Seasonal
You
あけましておめでとうございます。本年もよろしくお願いします。
あけましておめでとうございます。ほんねんもよろしくおねがいします。
Happy New Year. I look forward to your continued support this year.
Romaji: Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu. Honnen mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu. / Reply Romaji: Omedetō gozaimasu. Kochira koso yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Reply
おめでとうございます。こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。
おめでとうございます。こちらこそ、よろしくおねがいします。
Happy New Year to you too. I look forward to it as well.
Gesture & etiquette
Bow at 30 degrees warmly; both parties often bow simultaneously; a genuine, optimistic smile — this is Japan's most community-oriented and hopeful social moment of the year.
Japan's most important seasonal greeting, used from January 1st through early January. 'あけまして' means 'it has dawned / begun' — the opening of the new year. In offices, the year's first exchange between colleagues always follows this exact formula. Traditional New Year postcards (年賀状) carry this message, though younger generations increasingly send digital versions.