The New Year is the most important holiday in Japan, and is a symbol of renewal.In December, various Bonenkai or "forget-the-year are held to bid farewell to the problems and of the past year and for a new beginning. Misunderstandings and grudges are forgiven and houses are scrubbed. At midnight on December 31st, Buddhist . strike their gongs 108 times, in an effort to . 108 types of human weakness.