New Year in Japan – Traditional Meal

New Year is called “Oshogatsu” in Japanese and our family members and other relatives get together and eat Japanese traditional dishes.

“Osechi ryori” is a specially prepared New Year’s dish that is beautifully arranged in lacquer boxes.

Osechi-ryori are specially-prepared New Year’s dishes to be eaten during the first three days of January. Most dishes are cooked in order to be preserved for at least three days so women don’t have to cook during that period. Various kinds of beautifully-prepared dishes are set in four-tiered lacquer boxes.

Each of the dishes has some auspicious meaning which reflects people’s wishes. For example, kazunoko, herring roe, represents fertility, kuromame, cooked black beans, are for health (mame means healthy), and lobsters are for longevity because their bodies are bent like an old man’s.Each of the dishes has some auspicious meaning which reflects people’s wishes. For example, kazunoko, herring roe, represents fertility, kuromame, cooked black beans, are for health (mame means healthy), and lobsters are for longevity because their bodies are bent like an old man’s.

 

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