New Year’s Greetings 2026

– Hinoe-uma and the Spirit of Renewal

Dear     

We would like to extend our sincere New Year’s greetings and our warmest wishes for health, happiness, and fulfilment throughout 2026.

In Japan, New Year’s Day is the most important celebration of the year. It marks a time of renewal, reflection, and gratitude, and in many ways holds a similar cultural significance to Christmas in Western countries.

The year 2026 is known in the traditional calendar as Hinoe-uma (丙午). This sign represents powerful forward-moving energy, courage, transformation, and decisive progress. It is regarded as a year that encourages purposeful action and confident advancement.

We are also pleased to share with you a traditional Japanese New Year’s greeting card (Nengajo) attached to this message. Although the text is written in Japanese, the card itself carries cultural meaning: it conveys good wishes for the year ahead, appreciation for past relationships, and a sincere renewal of connection.

Even as AI technology continues to develop rapidly, 2026 is expected to be a year in which human qualities—dignity, empathy, integrity, judgement, and cultural intelligence—will be valued more highly than information alone. Within the global community, the soft skills long fostered in Japanese culture are receiving renewed recognition and importance.

We thank you most sincerely for your continued trust and support and look forward to working together in the year ahead.

Warmest regards,

ICPA International Protocol & Etiquette Academy of Japan
ICPA International Protocol Co., Ltd.