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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.

1月15日は「小正月（こしょうがつ）」と呼ばれる日です。この日は新年を祝う「大正月（おおしょうがつ）」に対して行われる行事です。小正月には、邪気を払うために「小豆粥（あずきがゆ）」を食べたり、灯籠を灯したりする習慣があります。

小正月の主な行事と風習には以下のものがあります：

小豆粥（あずきがゆ）：小豆粥を食べることで健康と豊作を祈ります。

どんど焼き：正月飾りやしめ縄を集めて焚き上げ、その火で無病息災を祈ります。

鏡開き：正月に飾った鏡餅を割って食べる風習で、家庭内の無病息災を祈ります。

女正月（めしょうがつ）：女性が中心となって家事から解放される日です。

豊作祈願：農業が盛んな地域では、豊作を願う行事が行われます。

各地域で異なる小正月の風習もあります。例えば、東北地方では「いのこ餅」、北陸地方では「左義長」、関西地方では「お粥占い」、九州地方では「とんど祭り」、沖縄地方では「ムーチー」という餅を食べる風習があります。

小正月は日本の伝統文化を感じることができる大切な日です。