Holidays / 08
New Year Card Maker (Nengajō)
Make a Japanese New Year card on a 100 × 148 mm postcard: the greeting written vertically, the year's zodiac sign, the Reiwa date, and a design or your photo, as a print-ready PDF or image.
New Year Card Maker (Nengajō): The card is drawn at 300 dpi at postcard size, with the greeting and message set vertically from right to left as nengajō traditionally are, and the date written as the Reiwa year with 元旦 (New Year's Day). The zodiac sign follows the calendar year, so 2027 is the year of the sheep (未). Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- Home & family tools
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Runs entirely in your browser
This is the picture side; the address side of a Japan Post New Year postcard is printed or written separately. Japan Post usually starts accepting New Year cards on 15 December and delivers those posted by 25 December on 1 January.
Writing a New Year card
A nengajō opens with a short greeting, written large: 謹賀新年 and 賀正 are formal four- and two-character greetings, while あけましておめでとうございます is the everyday spoken form. A line or two of thanks for the past year and good wishes for the new one follows, then the date, usually the era year and 元旦 for New Year's Day, and the sender's name.
Two-character greetings such as 賀正 and 迎春 are considered less formal toward superiors, so for a boss, a client, or an older relative the longer 謹賀新年 or a full sentence is the safer choice. Avoid words such as 去年 for last year; 旧年 or 昨年 is used instead.
Printing on a postcard
The PDF is exactly 100 × 148 mm, the size of a Japanese postcard. Choose the postcard size in the print dialog, print at 100%, and load the card picture side up as your printer's manual describes; inkjet New Year postcards take colour photos best. The address side is printed separately.
For a Western Christmas card, use the Christmas card maker.
How to use it
- Choose a design: the year's zodiac sign, the first sunrise, plum blossom, or your photo.
- Pick a greeting such as 謹賀新年 and a message, or write your own, and add your name.
- Download the PDF and print it on a New Year postcard at 100%, or save the image.
Privacy & limitations
Your photo and words stay in your browser; nothing is uploaded. The text and settings are remembered in this browser; the photo is not stored.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a nengajō?
A New Year greeting card sent in Japan, traditionally timed to arrive on 1 January. Japan Post sells prepaid New Year postcards and delivers cards posted in the New Year period together on New Year's Day.
When should I post New Year cards?
Japan Post usually starts accepting New Year cards on 15 December and delivers those posted by 25 December on 1 January; cards posted earlier than the 15th go as ordinary mail. Check Japan Post's announcement for the year.
Which zodiac sign is 2027?
2027 is the year of the sheep, 未 (hitsuji), in the twelve-year cycle; 2026 is the horse (午) and 2028 the monkey (申). New Year cards use the calendar year, from 1 January.
Can I print on the address side too?
This page makes the picture side. Write the address by hand, or use address-printing software, on the other side of the postcard.
Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required