Bouncing Red Ball

2009, the Year of the Ox, is coming!

Each year, the Japanese send millions of nengajo (Japanese New Year postcards) to family and friends; they’re the equivalent of Christmas cards that we send during this festive season. The message on a nengajo is usually “Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu” or “Happy New Year” and may be added with “Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu” (literally “Please be good to me again this year”).

If you haven’t done your nengajo yet, Japan Post (link: flash site with sound) has lots of free, high-quality, cow-themed nengajo images that range from elegant to cute and playful for you to download and print.

(You have to mail these not later than December 25 to ensure timely delivery. Scroll down for the download.)

12 sample cow-themed nengajo images

Here’s how to download

1. Click on this link: Japan Post search page.

2. Click on the red button on the middle of the page.

3. Click on the image that you like and click the red download button on the resulting pop-up message.

4. Click on the white cancel button beside the red download button to dismiss the pop-up message.

{via Gigazine}

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