Our Home-cooked Osechi おせち(Japanese New Year’s Boxed Meal)

Norio

What do you eat for New Year’s Day in Japan, Nico?

Tenmusu

Traditionally we have Osechi(おせち).

Okaka

Osechi? What is that?

Emika

Let’s have a look!

Home-cooked Osechi in My Family

Osechi in a Nutshell

Emika

Osechi (おせち)is a set of Japanese New Year’s dishes in a box.

It is prepared a few days before the New Year and eaten on January 1st in a family.

Okaka

Is it still common today?

Emika

Unfortunately, fewer and fewer people nowadays follow the tradition of home-cooking Osechi…., but we in my family still do that annually.

Norio

Is the photo above Osechi in your family? Looks so good!

Emika

Thank you! Yes, that’s our latest Osechi in 2025.

Meanings Symbolized in Each Osechi Dish

Shiso-chan

You have a variety of certain dishes in the Osechi box. What makes them special?

Emika

I think it’s the wish for the New Year symbolized in each dish. Here are some of them.

Kazunoko　数の子 (Herring Roe)

Symbol: Fertility (a lot of children) in the family (from its numerous herring eggs)

Tenmusu

They look a bit creepy, aren’t they…?

Emika

You’re not alone. My Dutch boyfriend also found the appearance scary (but then found out to be tasty!)

Nimono 煮もの (Simmered Stew)

Symbols:

・ Rooted lucks and happiness (as Nimono has a bunch of “root” vegetables such as carrots, daikon radish, and lotus roots)

・Family bonds (as different kinds of vegetables are stewed in one pot)

Kuro-mame 黒豆 (Sweetened Black Soybeans)

Symbol: Health (as “mame まめ” stands for both “beans” and “health” in Japanese)

Which Dish Attracts You?

Emika

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A 24-year-old Japanese flexitarian, from Nagano, currently working in Tokyo. Passionate about plant-based fermented food, and simple lifestyles.

[Backgrounds]
・8 years of a flexitarian lifestyle with well-being and love for other beings
・Connected to Dutch people and culture
・Starting up a plant-based cooking club at university
・Work experience at a Japanese fermented food company