Cleaning for the New Year: Susuharai in Japan
- Narelle Katsumoto
- 2 日前
- 読了時間: 3分
As the final month of the year rolls in, many people around the world begin preparing for grand holiday feasts and festive decorations. While lavish Christmas displays are the norm in many countries, Japan welcomes the New Year a little differently: through cleaning. Usually starting around December 13, households, offices, and schools take part in Ōsōji (大掃除), which is directly translated as “big cleaning.” Let’s take a closer look at why Japan’s countdown to the New Year begins not with sparkle and glitter, but with mops and brooms.
Why Soot Cleaning? Susuharai in Japan
Before electricity became part of everyday life, people relied on candles for light and wooden logs or charcoal for fire. Because these materials produced smoke, soot and ash often built up in homes and in sacred places. As a result, cleaning out soot became a common task, although it was extremely labor-intensive, especially for households with tatami mat floors.
If you’ve ever watched My Neighbor Totoro, you already have an idea of what soot looks like. At the beginning of the movie, the girls see a soot sprite. It’s small, round, and black in color. They call it “makkuro kurosuke” (meaning “pitch black,” referring to its color). They are later told by their neighbor that it’s a susuwatari, or soot ghost!
Early Beginnings of Susuharai
Early mentions of Ōsōji date back to the Heian Period (794 – 1185, when it was called “susuharai (煤払い).” Literally meaning “soot sweeping,” susuharai combines the words susu (“soot”) and harai (“sweeping”). Originally, this was an annual activity done only in the imperial court to dispel evil spirits and welcome the god of the New Year, Toshigami (歳神).
This Shinto god was believed to bring good rice harvests and watch over the spirits of ancestors. By the Muromachi Period (1336–1573), the focus of susuharai shifted to shrines and temples.
Modern Take from the Edo Period Susuharai in Japan
Did you know that the modern-day practice of susuharai got its start in the Edo Period? During this time, this practice was adopted by even samurai and commoner households that it became a widespread activity to prepare for the new year. In fact, it became so common that it was officially commemorated on December 13th, 1640. According to the Tōto Saijiki (The Annual Record of the Eastern Capital), the date was chosen because it coincided with the “seasonal cleaning” done at Edo Castle.
You might think it was a laborious and serious event, but in reality, it was quite the opposite! The day turned into a lively celebration, with people tossing one another into the air after finishing their cleaning. Vendors often wandered through neighborhoods selling susutake (煤竹), which were bamboo brushes used to sweep away soot. In households that hired cleaners, the owners would offer them mochi as a token of their gratitude. Afterwards, the workers would bathe to wash off the soot. Locals know it as susuyu (煤湯) or “soot bath.” Finally, they were given sake and allowed to finish work early. With that, they were ready to embrace the coming New Year.
Although people begin cleaning on December 13th, it doesn’t mean everything has to be finished in one day. Traditionally, the big cleaning was done by the 28th. That’s because the days leading up to New Year’s Day carry certain superstitions. For instance, the 29th is considered bad luck because the number 9 is associated with 苦 (ku), which means suffering. Meanwhile, cleaning on the 31st is frowned upon because it feels rushed and disrespectful when preparing for the New Year. Of course, January 1st marks the first day of the year, so cleaning on that day is believed to drive away good fortune.
Nowadays in Japan
Ōsōji has changed quite a bit since the Edo period. With modern cleaning tools and technology, the process has become much easier. Even so, fewer households are taking part in the tradition today.
A survey by Duskin, a well-known cleaning company, found that 51.8% of households did their big year-end cleaning before 2023, down from 71.7% in 2008. Participation among the elderly was lower at 47.8%, while children were more involved at 60.3%. The survey also noted an increase in people hiring professional cleaners. This rose from 2.14% in 2012 to 8.6% in 2022, showing a growing preference for convenience.
If you are interested in seeing the traditional form of susuharai, temples and shrines are some of the few places where the practice is still carried out today. Susuharai in Japan
Picture Sources:
https://www.library.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/portals/0/edo/tokyo_library/upimage/big/094.jpg
https://www.nippon.com/en/ncommon/contents/japan-topics/2702068/2702068.jpg
https://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20191026/15/ainishiuma/6a/21/j/o1080078114624208022.jpg
https://uploads.yolo-japan.com/part_time/image/30462/6202b5db11e196eabbdfb7caef23c04b.jpg
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