The narrator tells us that it's December 31st, the last day before the new year. He's happy because he used to live in Japan, and now he's back in the States with his friends. They're having a big New Year's Eve party, and they're planning to eat some "toshikoshi" , which is a traditional Japanese noodle dish, and listen to the bells ringing at midnight. The narrator and his friends plan to hang out at the "kotatsu" - a small, cozy table covered in a blanket - until midnight, and then they'll celebrate the New Year by listening to the "temple bells ringing" at midnight