The Sunlight starts striking against Mt.Fuji first on New Year's Day.
Buildings prevent us from seeing the first sunrise of the year at home.
東側はビルに囲まれているので、初日の出はこんな感じ。でも、富士山から先に朝日が射し始め夜が明けていいきます。元日の朝は快晴でした。
I hope the New Year finds you in good health and excellent spirit!
■ Twelve Symbols of th Chinese Zodiac Cycle
The ancient Chinese divided the course of the sun into twelve parts, to which they gave the names of twelve animals. They are Ne (rat), Ushi (ox), U (rabbit), Tatsu (dragon), Mi (snake), Uma (horse), Hitsuji (sheep), Saru (monkey), Tori (cock), Inu (dog), and I (boar).
These symbols used to refer to the directions, and the hours of a day, as well as the years, but today, they are mainly used in reference to the years. For example, 2015 is the year of the sheep, and 2016, the year of monkey, and so on. So by asking someone what his year of the zodiac is, one can guess the age of the person.