Can’t get enough of all things Japanese? Witness a taiko drum performance, and get your sake and sweets on at Liang Court – here’s your guide to welcoming the New Year their way
We’re all for taking the New Year seriously, as do the Japanese. Their New Year – shogatsu or oshogatsu – easily takes precedence over the other holidays in the calendar, which means it’s one of the best times to be there. But for those sticking around our sunny island of no snow, we know where all Nipponophiles are heading celebrate the New Year: Liang Court.
Start your new year with a bang
Witness the ancient art of Japanese percussion with the Taiko drum performance on 1 January, 2018 at 1 pm. Every motion is choreographed to the T, with a very healthy dose of vigour. And once you’ve got your heart pumping, take part in the kagami biraki – the traditional opening of a sake barrel.
Need more excitement? Grab a front-row seat to the shishimai performance happening on 7 January 2018 at 1 pm – the Japanese counterpart to the lion dance.
Pretty up your pastries
Have little ones to entertain? Join the children and decorate cookies and sushi with the with the vibrant colours of the New Year with Oshogatsu Cookie and Sushi workshops on 6 and 7 January 2018. And while you’re at it, see how the Japanese make traditional rice cakes at a mochi pounding showcase (mochitsuki).
And here’s a tip: quintessential Japanese supermarket in Singapore, Meidi-Ya, will sell Japanese New Year goodies for you to pick up all through the festivities from 29 December 2017 to 7 January 2018.
Say ‘Chiizu’!
Dress up for photo ops with balloon sculptures of the ultimate oshogatsu mascots: the daruma for perseverance and good luck, shishimai for chasing away bad luck, fukusuke for good luck, and maneki-neko for wealth.
Tip! Upload your pictures onto their Facebook page and guess the number of balloons needed to make these sculptures on the comment section. Closest entries get to win up to $500 in AsiaMalls vouchers! Terms and conditions apply.
Liang Court, 177 River Valley Road, Singapore 179030, p. 6336 7184.
This article is sponsored by Liang Court