Otoshidama (お年玉 - New Year's Gift Money)

There is a kind of New Year events called お年玉 (otoshidama), which is important for children.

Otoshidama refers to money that is given by adults to children when starting the New Year.

It is said that this tradition comes from the fact that 鏡餅 (kagami mochi - round rice cake) preparing for welcoming 歳神 (toshigami - Shinto God) were given to children
as 年玉 (toshidama) after fulfilling the role.

Here, the literal meanings of 年 (toshi) and 玉 (dama/tama) are "year" and "ball," respectively.

There are several theories about the etymology of toshidama -- one says that it comes from 年の賜物 (toshi no tamamono - year's gift), and another sayd that it comes from 年の魂 (toshi no tamashii - year's soul).

お年玉

正月の重要な行事の一つに、「お年玉」があります。

お年玉とは、新年を迎える際に贈られる金品、特に大人から子どもに与えられるものを指します。

この風習は、歳神様を迎えるために供えた鏡餅のお下がりを、「年玉」として子どもたちに与えたことに由来するそうです。

ここで、「年」は "year,"「玉」は "ball" を意味します。

「年玉」の語源に関する説は幾つかあり、「年の賜物」から来ている説や、「年の魂」から来ている説などがあります。

• There is a kind of New Year events called お年玉 (otoshidama), which is important for children.
• There is a kind of New Year events called お年玉 (otoshidama), which is important for children.

• Otoshidama refers to money that is given by adults to children when starting the New Year.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• It is said that this tradition comes from the fact that 鏡餅 (kagami mochi - round rice cake) preparing for welcoming 歳神 (toshigami - Shinto God) were given to children
• It is said that this tradition comes from the fact that 鏡餅 (kagami mochi - round rice cake) were prepared for the welcoming of 歳神 (toshigami - Shinto God) and were given to children

• as 年玉 (toshidama) after fulfilling the role.
• as 年玉 (toshidama) after fulfilling that role.

• Here, the literal meanings of 年 (toshi) and 玉 (dama/tama) are "year" and "ball," respectively.
• The literal meanings of 年 (toshi) and 玉 (dama/tama) are "year" and "ball," respectively.

• There are several theories about the etymology of toshidama -- one says that it comes from 年の賜物 (toshi no tamamono - year's gift), and another sayd that it comes from 年の魂 (toshi no tamashii - year's soul).
• There are several theories about the etymology of toshidama -- one says that it comes from 年の賜物 (toshi no tamamono - year's gift), and another says that it comes from 年の魂 (toshi no tamashii - the year's soul).

Nice English and explanation :)