It seemed strange at first: whenever I would talk to people about any major change in their life, it usually centered around April 1. New professionals start their jobs in April. Big moves to new homes and apartments often happen in April. The new school years begin in April. Businesses start their fiscal years in April! Yes, just about everything of significance in Japan starts in April. Yes, a new calendar year begins in January, but the real new year in Japan begins in April.
Without thinking, it doesn’t take long before you adopt this way of thinking. It’s so natural that new things would happen right alongside the spring in April. And in Japan, it does! Here’s to the new year in Japan!