Japan's New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony, in which Buddhist temples ring bells 108 times, is called Joya no kane. The ceremony takes place at temples on the night separating the old and new years.
The number 108 is traditionally connected with the Buddhist concept of worldly desires or earthly passions. Ringing the temple bell is understood to help people cast off these burdens before beginning the new year. The final rings may continue shortly after midnight, depending on the temple's schedule.
Joya no kane is part of a wider Japanese New Year period called Shōgatsu, one of the country's most important annual observances. It is a Buddhist temple practice rather than a fireworks tradition, although modern celebrations may also include television programs, family gatherings, shrine visits, and special foods. The ceremony is sometimes described simply as “108 bells,” but Joya no kane is the established Japanese term.