Month: December 2011

Osechi-Ryori during New Year’s days (1/1~1/3) in Japan

Japanese New Year’s food is called osechi-ryori, and colorful dishes are packed in layers of lacquer boxes, called jubako. The kinds of osechi dishes prepared at Japanese homes vary from region to region. Common dishes are kobumaki (simmered kombu rolls), kuromame (simmered black soy beans), kurikinton (mashed sweet potato with sweet chestnuts), tazukuri (candied dried sardines), and so on. Gobo (burdock), renkon (lotus roots), shrimps are often used ingredients. Also, various zoni (mochi rice cake soup) are commonly eaten during the holiday.

Each dish and ingredient in osechi has meanings, such as good health, good harvest, happiness, prosperity, long life, and so on. It’s said that yellow colored dishes and ingredients such as kazunoko (herring roe) symbolize prosperity and that various beans (mame) imply a wish for good health. Also, red/pink and white colored food, such as pink and white kamaboko (fish cake) slices represent celebration colors.

Traditionally, people finish preparing osechi dishes by New Year’s Eve so that they have food for a couple days. Nowadays, many people buy ready-made osechi dishes at stores instead of cooking them at home. It can be time-consuming to cook so many kinds of dishes. It’s even possible to order osechi-ryori packed in boxes at department stores, grocery stores, or convenience stores in Japan. These standard Osechi are in the range of $100-300.