4 Traditional Foods to eat during Japanese New Year

As the new year is right around the corner, let GoEMON guide you through our list of 4

traditional Japanese foods that you definitely should try this holiday season! Let’s jump right in, shall we? 

1. Osechi Ryori

Osechi Ryori is one of the most, if not the most, popular and important dishes when it comes to Japanese traditional New Year foods. It is similar to bento boxes but is much more fancy and wide a much wider variety of dishes. Osechi Ryori comes in multiple layers (usually 2 or 3) of lacquer boxes, with many different dishes in each layer for the entire family to share on the first day of the new year. 

There are many different dishes in Osechi Ryori, from Sweet Rolled Omelet (Datemaki), Candied Anchovies (Tazukuri), Herring Roe (Kazunoko), to Pickled Lotus Root (Surenkon), and Sweet Red Bean Paste (Anko). Each of the dishes also has its special symbolic meaning in welcoming the new year. Osechi Ryori back in the early days of its inception was simple and only comprised boiled foods flavored with soy sauce and mirin. Along with the passing of time, the number and variety of dishes and ingredients gradually increased, hence the fancy meal that we are familiar with today. 

2. Toshikoshi Soba

Japanese people love noodles, and another dish that is eaten all over Japan on New Year is Toshikoshi Soba (年越しそば), or “year-crossing soba” in English. This noodle dish is often eaten at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The dish is comprised of the main ingredients: the buckwheat noodles and the delicate dashi broth. You can also add whatever topping you like, such as fishcakes, green onions, tempura, and so on. The combination of the delicate, light, and full umami broth and the soft noodles is sure to satisfy your tastebuds. 

The buckwheat noodles are soft and easy to chew through while eating, symbolizing the act of cutting away the hardships of the past year. These noodles are also very long, which signifies longevity, and finishing the entire bowl means that you are getting rid of all bad luck in the past year and ready to start a fresh start with the new year! 

3. Kagami Mochi

Japan is the land of mochi, with hundreds of different variations. Thus, it is no surprise to know that mochi is also one of the foods commonly eaten during the new year here. During the days leading up to the new year, it is not hard to find Kagami Mochi everywhere in Japan, from shops to supermarkets, and in many Japanese homes. 

Directly translated into “mirror rice cake” in English, Kagami Mochi is a special type of mochi comprised of two rounds of mochi, the smaller on top of the larger, often with a Japanese bitter orange called daidai on top and accompanied by some other additional decorations. The mochi will generally be used as a decoration until the first weekend of January before being eaten, usually by breaking up into small pieces and putting them into Ozoni soup - another traditional Japanese New Year dish. 

4. Ozoni 

Ozoni is a traditional Japanese traditional soup featuring mochi as the star ingredient along with vegetables and proteins like meat or seafood. The dish is one of the most iconic dishes of Osechi Ryori ceremonial foods and thus traditionally enjoyed for breakfast on New Year’s Day in Japan. The preparation and taste of Ozoni varies by household and region, so you can be flexible and try the combination of different types of ingredients. However, generally, it is divided into two types: the Kanto style and the Kansai style. 

Kanto-style Ozoni features a clear miso soup flavored with bonito-based dashi and soy sauce, a piece of rectangular-shaped mochi that will be grilled before adding to the soup, commonly eaten with other ingredients such as chicken, fish cakes, dried shiitake, carrot, and leafy vegetables. The Kansai region’s version differs slightly. The soup is made from a combination of white miso and kombu base dashi soup. A round piece of mochi will be boiled in water first before being added to the soup along with Kyoto-specific ingredients such as taro root, daikon, carrot, and young greens.

Above was GoEMON’s recommendation for some of the best traditional Japanese dishes to eat during New Year's in Japan! The food all looked so good, didn’t they? If you have any other food recommendations, feel free to comment down below! 

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