Wishing for Health and Happiness in Osechi Dishes

Traditional New Year's Osechi dishes are served during New Year Holidays. In Japan, people visit their parents to enjoy holidays together. Osechi- ryori (dishes) differ from one area to another, but often include black beans, herring eggs, shrimps and lotus.

Our wish for working healthy is contained in the black beans. "Beans" symbolize good health. Sometimes it takes a whole night to boil beans and a skill to boil soft without breaking the skin.

<Kuri-kinton>

Kuri-kinton (Mashed sweet potate with sweetened chestnuts) looks beautiful. The golden color and sweat taste are appreciated by everyone. The golen yellow symbolizes wealth and victory, wishing for a propsperous new year.

Konbu wishes for a long and healthy lifetime. Konbu is a bringer of good luck to a family.

Tazukuri are small dried sardines. In the old days, small fishes were spread as fertilizer in a paddy field. Tazukuri literally means "grow a field". Pray for an abundant harvest!

Herring-roe (Kazunoko) has traitionally been eaten to pray for the prosperity of desendants because the nunber of roe is large.

Shrimp is a symbol of long life. Ther long antenna symbolizing long life and their curved backs reminiscent of the elderly are considered symbols of longevity. For this reason, they are featured in meals for the New Year's holidays.

Burdock is eaten hoping that you will enjoy happy and long lives. Burdock spans thin, long firm roots in the soil. Therefore, it is used in various dishes as auspicious ingredients.

Rice cakes (mochi) are regarded as a holy food dedicated to God and are indispensable in the event of the celebrations.Rice cakes boiled with vegetables and chicken are rich in regional flavor.

Winter vegetables are Japanese mustard spinach Broccoli, Chinese cabbage. Fishes are crabs, cod, flatfish and yellowtail. Yellowtail is a fish that is called by different names as they grow. They are used for New Year dishes as a lucky charm to bring happiness. Especially those caught in rough sea in winter are fatty and tasty.

Nowadays more and more people are buying Osechi dishes via online shops. There are new type of Osechi cuisine, including healthy ones with fresh vegetables and decorations.

Subpages (2): Downtime in Kanazawa Wishing for Health and Happiness in Osechi Dishes