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**January 15 is known as "Koshogatsu" (Little New Year) in Japan.** This day is celebrated as a counterpart to "Oshogatsu" (Big New Year). On Koshogatsu, people practice various traditional customs to ward off evil spirits, such as eating **red bean porridge** and lighting lanterns.

### Main Customs of Koshogatsu:
1. **Red Bean Porridge (Azuki-gayu):** Eating red bean porridge is believed to pray for health and a good harvest.
2. **Dondo-Yaki:** This involves burning New Year's decorations and Shimenawa (sacred straw ropes) to pray for good health throughout the year.
3. **Kagami Biraki:** Breaking and eating the Mochi (rice cake) that was decorated during the New Year to pray for household well-being.
4. **Me-Shogatsu (Women's New Year):** A day when women take the lead and are relieved from household chores, traditionally spending time resting and enjoying themselves.
5. **Prayers for Good Harvest:** In agricultural areas, ceremonies are held to pray for a good harvest, including rituals and divinations related to rice cultivation.

### Regional Customs:
- **Tohoku Region:** Eating "Inoko Mochi," made from red beans and sticky rice, wishing for family health and good fortune.
- **Hokuriku Region:** Holding the "Sagicho" ceremony, burning New Year's decorations and first calligraphy to predict the year's fortune.
- **Kansai Region:** Performing "Okayu Uranai" (porridge fortune-telling) using red bean porridge to predict the year's harvest and health.
- **Kyushu Region:** Holding "Tondo Matsuri" (Tondo Festival), burning New Year's decorations to ward off evil and pray for a good harvest.
- **Okinawa Region:** Eating "Mochi" wrapped in Gettou leaves to pray for family health.

Koshogatsu is an important day to experience Japan's rich traditional culture and customs.