Japanese Designer New Year’s Cards of 2025

Happy New Year of the snake! In Japanese art and mythology, the snake is a complex figure that represents both auspiciousness and malevolence. Snakes are revered as sacred beings, embodying themes of renewal, fertility, and the duality of nature as both protector and destroyer. And as tradition goes, we’ve put together our favorite nengajo, or New Years cards, from Japanese artists and designers featuring this year’s zodiac animal in all its colorful forms. We present to you, in no particular order, some inspiring artwork in hopes that 2025 will be full of surprises.

Alice Ozawa

Kyoto-based illustrator Alice Ozawa created this adorable, retro-style card.

Chaki

There’s a lot to appreciate in this card by Illustrator Chaki. If you like her girly style, she put out a coloring book last year.

Hinoki

Graphic designer Hinoki does a lovely job capturing the duality of snakes in this card.

Iguana Taisa

There were understandably several Medusa-inspired cards but we were particularly fond of this one from the appropriately-named illustrator and designer Iguana Taisa.

Bento Graphics

We always look forward to the animated cards from our friends at Bento Graphics and this year’s take on the retro video game did not disappoint!

Junichi Kishi

Yokohama-based illustrator Junichi Kishi created this lovely card in his signature pop-meets-woodblock-print style.

Kishimoto Chisato

There’s something soothing about this card from Tokyo-based designer Kishimoto Chisato.

Kobayashi Maki

Illustrator Kobayashi Maki incorporated her signature “furry neighbors” into this fun card.

Yoko Kuno

Illustrator Yoko Kuno incorporated her Ghost cat Anzu into this card.

Le Yamamura

We’re loving this card from Le Yamamura, an illustrator and designer who creates imaginary creatures and monsters for games, movies, & books.

Tomoka Furuya

Tomoka Furuya, who researches the potential of Japanese native plants to develop new food products, created a new years card from lusterleaf holly. She explains that this leaf was the origin of hagaki (postcard, in Japanese) which literally means “leaf writing.” When the underside of the leaf is scratched with a sharp object, the scratched part turns black.

Minami

Sometimes the simple ones are the best. Case-in-point: this card from illustrator Minami, which likens the snake to ribbons.

Nao Sakamoto

We’re fans of Hokkaido-based illustrator Nao Sakamoto and her tender comic book-style drawings of animals. And her new years card did not disappoint.

Reiko Okamoto

Designer Reiko Okamoto created this octogonal card featuring a circular snake, a motif associated with rebirth.

Ryo

Graphic designer Ryo incorporated white snakes into these seasonal decorations.

Studio Ghibli

Throwing the master himself into the mix: Hayao Miyazaki drew an 8-headed snake in his signature style.

Syoyo

This card from Syoyo. We love the concept of a headscarf for medusa!

Unpis

Unpis is the nom de plume of a Japanese illustrator hailing from Fukushima prefecture. The artist’s minimalist yet surreal illustrations, which deftly combine clean lines with a subtle sense of humor, has made us a fan.

Wakiko

Simple lines and simple colors yet such an outstanding card from illustrator Wakiko.

Yoshihiro Watanabe

Last but not least, our craftsmanship award goes to graphic designer Yoshihiro Watanabe, whose card combines red and white double-layered paper with puffed silk screening on one side and fluorescent red letterpress on the other.