Which Japanese island chain still observes a lunisolar New Year?

The Ryukyu Islands still observe a lunisolar New Year, traditionally celebrated on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar.

Japan’s mainland shifted to the Gregorian calendar during the Meiji period, but communities in the Ryukyu Islands—especially Okinawa and the Amami Islands—retained older calendrical customs. The celebration is commonly called Ryukyu New Year and is associated with family reunions, prayers for prosperity, traditional foods, and local ceremonies.

The wording can cause a common mix-up: “lunar” is often used casually, but the traditional Chinese calendar is lunisolar. Its months follow lunar phases, while the calendar is periodically adjusted with an extra month so that seasonal events remain aligned with the solar year.

The islands’ observance also reflects Ryukyu’s distinct historical identity. The Ryukyu Kingdom maintained close cultural and commercial ties with China and other parts of East Asia, helping preserve traditions that diverged from modern mainland Japanese practice.