Osechi Ryouri（お節料理）

New Year Meal

What is Osechi Meal?

Osechi is the traditional meal prepared for New Year.

First of all, the Japanese people try not to kill any animals for a few days from the beginning of a new year. And they welcome the gods to enjoy this special meal so that they are very busy in preparing for these dishes which last few days.

All of the Ingredients are well-meaning.

The Japanese seems to believe Kotodama; e.g. power of language / soul of language from ancient times. Let me try to pick up some dishes which explain this Japanese traditional customs to start a new year.

• Kobumaki（昆布巻）- sea weeds rolls

  “Kobu” is turned on if “pleased” and they wish for fertility and family prosperity.

• Tai（鯛）- snapper

  “Tai” is similar pronunciation to the word; “medetai” - happiness.

In addition to a game of making puns, there are more power of lanuages.

• Kuromane（黒豆）- black beans
  ”Mame” stands for an energy and it turns on as work hard. They wish for work and study well healthy with black beans.

• Gobo（ごぼう）- burdock
  Burdock set up its root deep into the ground so that they hope that they can spread out their home and business well in their local community.

• Kazunoko（数の子）- herring roe

  The Kazunoko is eaten to pray for the prosperity of descendants since there are many eggs.

• Ebi（海老）- shrimp
  長いひげと曲がった腰が長寿の象徴で長生きを願う。

  Because the shape of shrimps is bent with long mustache looks like an old man, people eat them to pray for longevity.

• Hamaguri（はまぐり） - clams
  Both sides of shells match perfect and they wish for a couple harmony and happiness.

etc….