Japanese Traditional New Year’s Dishes “Osechi”

We eat Osechi to celebrate a New Year as well as to pray for good health of the family.
Every item has a name, meaning and reason.
Today, Osechi dishes are set in two or three-tiered lacquer boxes.

Ichi-no-Jyu (The 1st Box)

• Kuromame(Black Soybeans)Encouraging hard work
• Kinpira-gobo(Candid Burdocks and Carrots)Wish for rooting our life in the community
• Konbu-maki(Kelp Roll)Wish for joy of life
• Date-maki(Sweet Rolled Omelets)Wish for academic success
• Kazunoko(Herring Roe)Wish for the prosperity of descendants
• Tazukuri(Candid Dried Anchovies)Wish for a great harvest
• kohaku-kamaboko(Red & White Fishpaste Cake)Wish for improvement of knowledge
• Kurikinton(Mashed Sweet Potato with Sweetened Chestnuts)Wish for fortune and wealth
• Nishiki Tamago(Steamed Sweet Layered Egg Cake)Wish for economic prosperity

Ni-no-Jyu (The 2nd Box)

• Tai(Grilled Red Snapper)For celebration
• Ebi(Shrimp)Wish for longevity
• Buri(Yellowtail)Wish for promotion
• Hamaguri(Asian hard clams)Wish for a happy marriage

San-no Jyu (The 3rd Box)

• Chikuzen-ni(Simmered Vegetables)Wish for the prosperity of descendants and longevity

Yo-no-Jyu (The 4th Box)

• Kohaku-Namasu(Pickled Red and White Vegetables)Wish for Peace of the world
• Su-Renkon(Pickled Lotus Roots)Representing a good outlook to the New Year
• Kikka-Kabu(Pickled Turnups)Wish for auspiciousness

Go-no-Jyu (The 5th Box)

• Each item represents the success in the future