Hatsuyume (初 夢, literally “the first dream”) is the first dream in the new year (usually on the night of January 1 to 2), which, according to Japanese beliefs, determines the fate of a person for the next year.
First mentioned in Sankasu (山 家 集 sankasu :), a collection of verses from the Kamakura period.
There is a saying about hatsuyume: “one is Fuji, two is hawk, three is eggplant” (Japanese 一 富士 二 鷹 三 茄子 ichi fuji, no taka, san nasubi), that lists objects that are a particularly good sign to see in the first dream of the year.
