Japanese New Year Card Writing Guide | Addresses, Messages, and Mailing Deadlines

In Japan, sending nengajo (年賀状) — New Year's postcards — is a deeply rooted tradition for wishing friends, family, colleagues, and teachers a happy new year. Writing a stack of cards in late December can feel overwhelming, especially when you're second-guessing address formats, honorifics, and what exactly to write in the message section. This guide gives you everything you need to write and send nengajo confidently.

The key deadline: to ensure January 1 delivery, mail by December 15–25. Cards received through January 7 are generally considered nengajo; anything arriving after that becomes a kanchu mimau (寒中見舞い, winter greeting) instead.

The Basics | Structure and Format

Standard Layout

A nengajo has four components in sequence:

1. Greeting heading (賀詞, kashi) — the celebratory phrase at the top
2. Main text — thanks for the past year, wishes for the new one
3. Closing — a brief warm sentence
4. Date and sender information

A typical flow: open with "謹賀新年" (kinga shinnen, respectful New Year greeting), follow with "Thank you for your continued kindness last year" and "I look forward to another year together," close warmly, and end with "January 1, [Year]" plus your name and address.

Before writing, lightly mark three sections on the card (greeting, body, closing) to keep the layout balanced. This prevents cramming everything into one area.

Common Mistakes at a Glance

The double-greeting error is especially common: "謹賀新年" already means "respectful New Year congratulations," so following it with "あけましておめでとうございます" (happy new year) repeats the same idea redundantly. Use one or the other.

Background: Why Nengajo?

Nengajo evolved from the practice of nenshu-mawari — visiting everyone you owed thanks to on New Year's Day in person. As Japan grew and distances made that impractical, written greetings took over. The custom peaked in 2003 at about 4.46 billion cards. By 2025 that had dropped to roughly 1.07 billion, and 2026 projections show around 748 million — a sign of how much communication has shifted to digital channels. That said, a physical card still carries weight, especially for close relationships.

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Address Formats | Individuals, Teachers, Organizations

Individuals and Families

Always write the full address including prefecture (都道府県). Omitting it — even for a close friend — looks careless on a formal New Year's card. Include building name and apartment number.

Keep a margin of about 0.5–1.0 cm from all edges so the address doesn't look cramped.

Honorific: 様 (sama) for individuals — never omit it. Do not use plain names without an honorific, even for friends.

For a couple or family, list in this order: head of household, spouse, children — each with their own 様:

山田太郎様
山田花子様
山田一郎様

If using vertical script (縦書き), use kanji numerals (一, 二, 三). Horizontal script (横書き) can use standard numerals.

Teachers and Doctors

The correct honorific for teachers, doctors, and other professionals is simply 先生 (sensei). Do not add 様 after 先生 — this creates a doubled honorific (先生様) that is both redundant and incorrect. 先生 already contains its own respect.

Example:

• Correct: 佐藤先生
• Incorrect: 佐藤先生様

Organizations and Companies

For organizations, use 御中 (onchu) after the organization or department name. Do not add 様 after 御中 — "御中様" is incorrect.

If sending to a named individual at a company, use 様 for the person — not 御中:

The rule is simple: organization → 御中; individual person → 様. Never combine them for the same addressee.

Boarding with a Host Family

When the recipient lives with someone else (student renting a room, staying with relatives), use 様方 (sama-kata):

"田中様方 山本花子様" — "in care of Tanaka, for Yamamoto Hanako"

This tells the postal system (and the household) that the mail is addressed to someone other than the primary resident.

Layout Tips

The name should be noticeably larger than the address. For vertical layouts, start the address from just below the postal code box and place the name toward the center of the card. Maintain consistent number style throughout — don't mix kanji and Western numerals.

OK/NG Address Summary

Personal Messages | Ready-to-Use Examples by Recipient Type

A handwritten addition to a printed card should serve a different purpose than the printed text. If the printed body already includes "Thank you for last year / Please continue to support me this year," the handwritten note should add something the printed text cannot: a specific memory, a personal observation, a genuine wish.

For a Superior at Work

Direct, ready-to-use: "Thank you for your patient guidance throughout last year." "I look forward to your continued mentorship this year."

Customizable: "Your advice on [specific project/situation] meant a great deal to me." "I know you've been very busy — please take care of yourself."

For a Teacher or Mentor

Direct, ready-to-use: "I am deeply grateful for the warm guidance you gave me during my time as your student." "I sincerely wish you good health in the coming year."

Customizable: "Something you taught me about [subject/skill] came back to me clearly this year in my work." "I hope to have an opportunity to share my progress with you sometime."

For Relatives

Direct, ready-to-use: "I hope everyone in your household is keeping well." "Our family is in good health as the new year begins."

Customizable: "Seeing you last [season/occasion] was a real highlight of my year." "The kids are growing fast — things are lively at our house!"

For Friends and Colleagues

Friends (direct): "Thank you for everything last year." "Wishing you a fulfilling new year."

Friends (customizable): "Let's find time to have a proper meal together this year." "I keep thinking about [shared memory/conversation] — it really stuck with me."

Colleagues: Add slightly more polish — "Thank you for your cooperation last year" and "I look forward to working alongside you again" are reliable, professional choices.

Avoiding Redundancy: Dividing Labor Between Print and Handwriting

The handwritten section should carry something personal the printed template cannot. Ask yourself: "Would this person know this was written specifically for them, or does it read like a generic insert?"

Aim for 2–3 lines in the bottom margin of the card. Use black ink for legibility. Stay clear of inauspicious words (death, suffering, departure, decline) and avoid wishing for things that could imply bad outcomes.

If the recipient is in mourning, skip the nengajo entirely and send a kanchu mimau winter greeting instead — after the matsunochi period.

Mailing Deadlines

For January 1 Delivery

Japan Post typically opens the New Year's postcard acceptance window in mid-December. To reach most addresses by January 1, aim to mail by December 15–25. The exact acceptance start date changes slightly each year — check Japan Post's announcement for the current year.

Cards mailed after December 25 may still arrive within the matsunochi window but won't be guaranteed for January 1.

Matsunochi Deadline

Cards received through the matsunochi period are still appropriate as nengajo:

• Kantō region (Tokyo area): generally January 7
• Kansai region (Osaka area): often January 15

If the recipient follows Kansai tradition and you know this, a card arriving by January 15 is fully appropriate. When uncertain, the January 7 standard is the safer target.

After the Window: Switch to Kanchu Mimau

If your card will arrive after January 8, don't force it as a nengajo. Switch to a kanchu mimau (寒中見舞い) winter greeting format — drop the celebratory language, focus on the season and the person's wellbeing, and note (briefly) that you're writing late.

Kanchu mimau can also be used for:

• Recipients who sent you a nengajo but you didn't send one in return (after the window closes)
• Recipients in mourning who cannot exchange nengajo
• Cards that simply arrived too late

Mailing Logistics

The deadline you need to meet is not your mailing date — it is the last collection time from the postbox on that date. On December 25, for example, mailing at 8 PM may miss the final collection. Post office windows have their own hours that differ from standard operation; holiday closures apply.

Postcard Types

Nengajo Postcards

Official Japan Post nengajo postcards are the simplest choice — they include an o-toshidama (お年玉) lottery number and are automatically treated as New Year's mail. No additional marking required.

Standard Postcards

Standard postcards can be used as nengajo, but require a red handwritten "年賀" (nenga) notation on the address side — above the address, clearly visible. Without this marking, the card is processed as regular mail and may not be held for New Year's delivery.

Current postcard rate: ¥85 (~$0.55).

Standard postcards do not include a lottery number.

Custom/Private Postcards (私製はがき)

If you want to use your own photos, custom illustrations, or specialty paper, private postcards are fully valid as nengajo. Requirements:

• Affix the correct postage stamp (¥85 / ~$0.55)
• Write "年賀" in red on the address side, above the address

Custom postcards do not include a lottery number. The design freedom is the trade-off.

Common mistake: Finishing the design and forgetting to add the red "年賀" marking on the address side. A practical fix: write the "年賀" notation first, before filling in the address, so you can never forget it.

Comparison

Common Mistakes and Final Check

Frequent Errors

The 御中/様 distinction is worth underscoring: one addressee gets one honorific. Organizations get 御中; named individuals get 様. Never put both on the same line for the same recipient.

Final Checklist

By recipient group:

• Superiors and business contacts: 様, professional tone, clean address
• Teachers: 先生 (no 様 after it), respectful body text
• Company/organization: 御中 (no 様 after it)
• Family: connected address, personal message
• Friends: any warm message, full address

Card by card:

• Honorific correct and consistent
• Printed body and handwritten addition are different (no duplication)
• Address complete: prefecture → building → apartment number
• Postcard type note: if using non-official postcards, red "年賀" is written

Mailing:

• Mailing date is December 15–25 for January 1 delivery
• If after January 7 window: switch to kanchu mimau format
• Post office / mailbox collection time confirmed for the mailing date

The goal of a nengajo is not to showcase your knowledge of etiquette — it is to make the recipient feel thought of. A correct address, an on-time arrival, and one genuinely personal sentence accomplish that better than a technically elaborate card sent without care.

Regional Notes and Print Volume Trends

Matsunochi Regional Difference

Japan does not have a single universal matsunochi cutoff. The Kantō (Tokyo) standard is January 7; the Kansai (Osaka/Kyoto) standard is often January 15. If you know your recipient follows Kansai tradition, calibrate your mailing deadline accordingly. When in doubt, January 7 is the safer target.

Declining Print Volumes

Nengajo print volumes peaked at about 4.46 billion cards in 2003 and have fallen sharply since — roughly 1.07 billion in 2025 and approximately 748 million projected for 2026. These figures come from media reports; confirm exact figures with Japan Post's official announcements.

The practical implication: fewer cards makes each one more meaningful. Sending a thoughtfully written card to a select list of important people is more impactful today than sending a large undifferentiated batch.