It is interesting to observe how much emphasis is put on a number of „first” things in Japan. We can say that this time of year is the celebration of the „firsts”. Among others is 初詣で (hatsumōde), the first visit to a shintō shrine or 初釜 (hatsugama), the first tea ceremony of the year.

The story of kakizome goes back to the distant past when it was celebrated in the imperial court only. Then, over the course of centuries, it had spread over Japan and by the end of the Edo-era (江戸時代, 1603-1868) it became a popular, nationwide event.

 Traditionally  kakizome is done using freshly rubbed ink and the first water drawn from the well on 1 January. Ink grinding provides perfect opportunity for meditation and is always performed with the greatest care. Once the ink is ready, the writer lifts up the brush and with steady strokes, smoothly and uninterruptedly  brushes the calligraphy on paper. This moment perfectly reveals the subtle meaning of the phrase 書は人なり (sho ha hito nari) „ calligraphy is the person” or in other words: our handwriting reflects our personality.

 Usually an auspicious word or phrase was written out on paper, something that embodies one’s wishes or resolutions for the New Year. Popular topics were haiku (俳句) about longevity, the coming of spring or perennial youth. A frequently brushed poem was: 「長生殿裏春秋富、不老門前日月遅」)

In modern times people prefer to write kanji with a positive meaning. Kakizome is also often given as an assignment to primary or secondary school students for the winter holidays. These calligraphies are still often burned during the Sagicho festival (左義長祭り) on the night of 14 January. According to popular belief the higher your burning paper flies the more skilled you will be in the new year.

Every year on 5 January  thousands gather at the Nippon Budōkan (日本武道館) in Chiyoda-ku (千代田区), Tokyo to write out their wishes for the new year. This is the first large-scale calligraphic event of the year, widely covered by the media.

 

Popular themes are:

富士山・ Mount Fuji

つよい心 or 強い心・ strong heart

強い信念・ strong faith

強い決意・ strong determination

がんばる・ Go ahead, do it!

創造する心・ to create a heart

美しい心・ beautiful heart/mind

心に太陽・ sun in the heart

健全な心・ healthy heart
生きる力・ living force
げん気 or 元気・  health

夢と希望・ dream and hope

希望の朝・ the morning of hope
美の追求・ searching for beauty

未来の夢・ dream of the future

道法自然・ the law of the path is natural

自然を守る・ to protect nature

白いはと（鳩）・ white dove
世界平和・ world peace
平和の国・ peaceful country
幸せな家庭・ happy home

晴れた空・ light sky

春風・ spring wind

陽春・ the time of spring

春光千里・ long spring

四海の春・ the spring of four seas

明るい春・ bright spring
雪の正月・ snowy new year
七くさ・ seven (spring or autumn) plants

白い山・ white mountain

ゆき山・ snowy mountain

白嶺夕景・ snow-capped mountain 
雪光る・ bright snow

御来光・ to see the sunrise from the top of a tall mountain
雪国紀行・ journal of a snowy landscape

始業式・ opening ceremony

卒業記念・ school-leaving memory
宇宙旅行・ boat trip
… and so on…..