Having noodles, specifically toshikoshi soba (年越しそば), on 31 December is a time-honoured tradition in Japan. The process of eating these long buckwheat noodles symbolises crossing from one year to the next.
Here's a snapshot of the delicious, handmade soba I just had at my favourite soba place in Izu:
Toshikoshi soba to bid farewell to the passing year and welcome the new one