HAPPY NEW YEAR: OMEDETO

There are several ways to say Happy New Year in Japanese.

A popular formal greeting is "shinnen omedeto" which literally translates to congratulations for the new year which is beginning.

This is a longer and more formal version "akemashite omedeto gozaimasu."

And you would say in return, kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu, which means I look forward to your continued good will in the coming year.

Among Japanese friends, the casual short-cut greeting for the beginning of the year is simply "omedeto" which translates to congratulations.

To all my friends, omedeto.

And since you are friends, your casual reply is simply kotoyoro.