Arab News Japan

TOKYO: In Japan, the arrival of the New Year is marked not by fireworks or countdown parties, but by the solemn sound of temple bells echoing through the night. This tradition, known as Joya no Kane, takes place around midnight on New Year’s Day.

Across the country, Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times, often starting late on New Year’s Eve and continuing into the first moments of the new year. In many places, members of the public are invited to participate, quietly taking turns striking the bell.

The number 108 is significant in Buddhism, symbolizing the 108 earthly desires believed to cause human suffering—such as anger, greed, envy, and attachment. Each bell strike represents the release of one such desire, allowing people to welcome the new year with a purified mind.

Rather than a festive celebration, Joya no Kane is a moment of reflection. The slow, resonant sound encourages people to look back on the past year, acknowledge their imperfections, and step into the new year with renewed clarity and calm.

For many Japanese people, listening to or participating in the ringing of the bell is a quiet ritual of renewal—letting go of emotional burdens and embracing a fresh beginning grounded in introspection and hope.

The temple is Kan’ei-ji Temple, located in Taito Ward, Tokyo, is a historic Buddhist temple founded in the 17th century during the Edo period. It was closely associated with the Tokugawa shogunate and played an important role as a spiritual guardian temple of Edo (present-day Tokyo).