8. Two Year-End Customs in Japan.

In Japan, we do a big cleanup at the end of the year. Cleaning up means cleaning every nook and cranny of the house, even the places that are not usually cleaned. Not only ordinary households but also companies and schools do it respectively.

And on New Year's Eve, people eat soba. In reference to the nature of soba, it is said that eating soba at this time of the year will drive away evil spirits.