初売り

• 読み: はつうり
• ローマ字: hatsuuri
• 漢字の分解: 初 (first, beginning) + 売り (selling, sale) → the first sale of the new year
• 発音: /ha.tsɯ.u.ɾi/

意味

The first sale of the New Year, held by retail stores on January 1st to 3rd with special deals and lucky bags.

The 初売り is one of Japan's biggest shopping events, marked by massive discounts, 福袋 (lucky bags), and long queues. Department stores, electronics shops, and brand stores offer their best deals of the year. It's a cultural tradition closely tied to the New Year holiday spirit. People plan strategies for which stores to hit first, and the atmosphere is festive and competitive.

例文

1. 初売りでヨドバシ行ったらもう長蛇の列だったよ。
2. 毎年初売りのために年末にお金使わないようにしてる。
3. 初売りで50%オフだったからコート2着も買っちゃった。

使い方ガイド

場面: New Year shopping, daily conversation, social media

トーン: excited, festive

正しい言い方

• 初売りいつから？朝何時に並ぶ？ (When does the New Year sale start? What time do we line up?)
• 初売りで狙ってたバッグが安くなってて即買いした。 (The bag I was eyeing went on sale at the New Year sale and I bought it immediately.)

避ける言い方

• 「初売りなんて行列するだけ無駄」と正月の楽しみにしてる人に言わない (Don't tell people who look forward to the New Year sale that 'it's a waste to stand in line')

よくある間違い

• Thinking 初売り is just another sale — it's a culturally significant New Year tradition with unique offerings not available at regular sales

起源と歴史

From 初 (first) + 売り (sale/selling). A traditional Japanese commerce custom dating to the Edo period when merchants opened for the first time after New Year. Modern 初売り has become a major retail event.

文化的背景

時代: Edo period origins, modern commercial form established in the Showa era

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. Start dates vary — some stores begin January 1st, others January 2nd. Electronics retailers like Yodobashi Camera are especially popular.