According to Japanese New Year's Eve tradition, Buddhist temple bells are rung 108 times.
The ceremony is called joyanokane, or the bell-ringing ceremony that takes place on New Year's Eve. In Buddhist interpretation, the 108 strikes represent the earthly desires or passions believed to cause human suffering. Ringing the bell is associated with leaving those troubles behind before the new year begins.
Usually, the final strike is completed around midnight or just afterward, depending on the temple and local schedule. Large and small temples across Japan may participate, and visitors can sometimes take part in striking the bell under supervision.
The number 108 is also found in other Japanese religious and cultural contexts, including traditional listings of human desires. The ceremony is not the same as a Western countdown: it is a reflective ritual tied to purification and renewal rather than simply measuring the last seconds of the year.