How do I send a nengajo?

[Shokai]

I have heard that in Japan, they send New year's card to the post office and the post office keeps it until new year's and deliver them on new year's day. I have read that it can be done from overseas too. Has anyone done it? I read that if it is from over seas, one writes the word nenga in red. Also, how would you write the word nenga. Would it be 年賀 ？ I really want to surprise my friend so she can recieve it on new years because I have not written to her for a while.

Also, on the nengajo where and how do I put the era name?

example: The year 2001 will be "heisei juu-san nen". How will I write it WITH THIS new year. How do I write it?

Arigatou!!  

[chinotenshi]

As I have never sent one from overseas, I can't tell you much other than the year.

2007 will be 平成十九年.  

[Yilei]

The era goes after/below the initial greeting which'll be something like "kinga shinnen" or 謹賀新年 which basically means "Happy New Year".

I made an image one for my online friends last year, so that should help you.



The image can actually be technically anything you want, but more traditional pictures would usually be the animal for th New Year, which in this case would be the Boar/Pig or some other good luck symbol or plum blossoms or something.

There are three flowers that bloom in early spring and those are representative of the New Year because the Japanese used to follow the Lunar calendar like the Chinese did and the Lunar New Year actually starts when spring time is coming. Because of that, the three flowers being featured on nengajou is common. I forgot the exact order, but I think plum blossoms were second and sakura were last. I can't remember what the first one was, but their blooming is symbolic of the New Year so you'll see those featured sometimes.

They also have online nengajou greetings too. Even if you don't send them, just looking at them can help you get an idea of what kinds of greetings you write on them:

http://greeting.rakuten.co.jp/event/nenga/  

[Tanu-chan]

It is 平成19年　Right now.
I get Nengajyo from my aunt and grandma and stuff, and I think you need something special...I don't know, I never tried personally. I'll look for it!