Osechi - Japanese New Year's Food

Hi,

Last Sunday I listened to Bill Daley talk about traditional new year's foods on WGN radio. In Japan before there was refrigeration, they would have food prepared in advance to dine on for three days. From Janaury 1st - 3rd, there were no shops open. He indicated this tradition continues today though people often buy food kits for those three days. He said these kits can be simple to extravagantly expensive with food selected for symbolic meaning. I thought this was kind of interesting, though didn't think any more about it.

On new year's eve, I went to Mitsuwa for a lunch of soup noodles with my partner in crime Helen. We did our usual drift from swim class to something we really like to do: eat!

Mitsuwa is very good about highlighting special foods and events in front of their main door. On new year's eve, they had some rather interesting food kits that reminded me of Bill Daley's comments.





The selection of osechi foods are intended to be symbolic of good health, fertility, good harvest, happiness and long life. These foods may be:

About.com wrote:Kobumaki is a Japanese kelp roll, which is one of Japanese New Year's food. The fillings in kobumaki can be gobo burdock if you would like.

About.com wrote:Kuromame means black beans in Japanese, and it indicateds simmered sweet black beans. The Japanese word for beans, mame, also means "working like a bee." So, people hope for being able to work in good health, eating kuromame on Japanese New Year.

About.com wrote:Datemaki is a Japanese sweet rolled omelet. It's one of Japanese New Year's food.

About.com wrote:Tazukuri is sugared dried sardine and is one of Japanese New Year's food.

About.com wrote:Kurikinton is mashed sweet potato with sweet chestnuts (kuri). It's one of Japanese New Year's food (osechi).

About.com wrote:Namasu is pickled daikon radish and carrot. Since daikon and carrot express celebration colors of red and white, it's one of Japanese New Year's food.

About.com wrote:Kinpira gobo is braised burdock root.

Nimono includes gobo (burdock root), satoimo (taro), renkon, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and more.
Kazunoko (herring roe)
Ebi-no-saka-mushi - Sake Steamed Shrimp
Pink and White Kamaboko (fish cakes)
Tai-no-shio-yaki (grilled sea bream)

As Bill Daley commented, there are expensive osechi with Mitsuwa offering a sealed in a cardboard carton kit:



A helpful diagram and explanation of the contents is all you have available before you plunk down your money:



When you run out of ideas on what to splurge for next new years, then this may satisfy your curiosity.

Happy New Year!

Another common item are bamboo shoots carved into the shape of a turtle or crane, both symbols of long life. I've celebrated new years with Japanese friends many times and spent hours doing that with a paring knife.

And don't forget freshly made mochi, which Cathy, you reported on a few years ago.

For all I know, there was a mochitsuki event this year as well. I went a couple of years back and tried my hand at rice pounding. I was graciously told to hand over the mallet after one or two blows got a little too close for comfort.

I had some experience, so maybe I got cocky. While staying with a family, I spent the better part of a morning bashing the heck out of steamed rice some years back. There really is a zen ebb and flow between the two participants:


With a little practice, you develop a beautiful rhythm.

Note, that this is traditionally done with a variety of implements. I visited a small town where the pounding was principally done with sticks.

From my trip to Japan a few years ago. I remember spending a lot of yen on these brightly colored and packaged food, just to see what they tasted like!

Most of them are very sweet, probably for the good omens and for a longer shelf life?