Pop Japan

2017 is fast approaching and many of us are busy thinking about our new year’s resolution or the food we are about to cook and eat on new year’s eve.

The Japanese people have this variety of food prepared for New Year. Osechi Ryori contains several Japanese food, each dish having its own meaning. This is also considered the most important meal of the year. People prepare osechi few days before the new year, in a way that will last for several days.

Here are some of the items included in Osechi Ryori:

Kuromame

Kuromame are sweet black beans. It signifies health for people to be able to work hard (mameni-hataraku).

Datemaki

Datemaki is a sweet rolled omelette. It is made with fish paste and has a soft, sponge-like texture. Datemaki is a popular Japanese food and since it looks like the sun, it also wishes people good and sunny days ahead. It also symbolizes knowledge.

Kazunoko

Kazanuko is a herring roe marinated in a broth made of dashi, sake, and soy sauce with red chili flakes. It is a tiny fish and looks like a tobiko, or the Japanese flying fish roe, because the crunchy texture. This food is served to be blessed with many children. This one symbolizes fertility.

Gomame

Gomame also known as Tazukuri, are young dried anchovies cooked in mirin, sugar and soy sauce. It is also sprinkled with sesame seeds. Gomame is a good source of calcium and symbolizes bountiful harvest. Take note, you can eat the anchovies’ heads!

Kuri Kinton

This is a sweetened mashed Japanese sweet potato, mixed with sugar syrup. Kinton means “group of gold” and this food wishes wealth and financial success in the coming years.

Kamaboko

This symbolizes the “rising sun”. The pink and white Japanese fish cakes are sliced and alternately layered in a row of pink and white.

Nimono

Nimono also wishes people fertility. It is made of fresh young taro. The carrots are carved like plum blossoms. The shiitake mushrooms are simmered with katsuo, the Japanese skipjack tuna, or kombu dashi, the seaweed broth.

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! Happy new year, everyone!