New Year (oshougatsu) is the most important holiday in Japan. Business usually shut down from 1st to 3rd January and families typically gather to spend the days together and enjoy ‘Osechi ryori’.
‘Osechi ryori’ is a specially prepared Japanese New Year's food packed in layers of lacquer boxes, called jubako.

In olden days, people were forbidden to use their oven except cooking Ozouni when the New Year was such a holy holiday so they would cook a vast amount for the first few days of oshogatsu before the oven ban.
But it also made women rest and relieve them from cooking during oshogatsu as osechi dishes are meant to last long so that we will be able to eat them for a few days during the New Year.

Before having Osechi, Otoso (spiced sake) will be served first in sakazuki lacquered. It will be shared by all family members to toast in a healthy year as well as invite peace within the household.

Each dish and ingredient has meanings, such as good health, good harvest, happiness, prosperity or long life…

• Tai: red sea-bream. Tai is associated with the Japanese word ‘medetai’ symbolizing an auspicious event
• Datemaki: sweet rolled omelette. They symbolize a wish for many auspicious days. One of the meanings associated with the second kanji includes "fashionability," derived from the illustrious dress of the samurai from Date Han.
• Kamaboko: broiled fish cake. Traditionally, slices of red and white kamaboko are represent celebration colours
• Kobumaki: kelp roll is a dish with a sliced of fish (usually dried herring) wrapped in Konbu seaweed. It is associated with the word yorokobu, meaning "joy."
• Shiitake: Shiitake mushroom will be put in a Nimono
• Konnyaku: devil's tongue used for Nimono too.
• Kurikinton: Sweat potato and Chestnut. Because of its colour (gold), it symbolizes wealth.
• Kazunoko: herring roe. It symbolizes a wish to be gifted with numerous children
• *Gobou (Tataki Gobou): literally means ‘beaten burdock’. Burdock is a long slender taproot and is symbolic of the way life should be lived according to the Japanese.
• Renkon: lotus root, symbolizes insight for the future

Namasu (left), Kuromame (right)

Ozouni (left), Ebi (right)

Kurikinton (left), Nimono (right)

• Kuro-mame: black soybeans. Mame also means "health," symbolizing a wish for health and to work diligently.
• Namasu: made of daikon and carrot cut into thin strips and pickled in sweetened vinegar. White & red ” has an auspicious meaning in Japan
• Zoni: a soup of mochi (rice cakes) in clear broth or soy sauce base broth or miso broth etc… (its vary from region to region) .
• Ebi: prawns cooked with sake and soy sauce, symbolizing a long life since the shape is like old man whose back is bent.
• Kurikonton: It’s supposed to be a golden color which symbolizes wealth, but unfortunately mine turned out orange as I couldn’t find Japanese one in UK…
• Nnimono: stewed vegetables (lotus, burdock, bamboo, taro, carrots & shiitake)

Actually, there are too many dishes to list and they vary widely by region and family.

Traditionally, people prepare osechi by New Year's Eve but nowadays, many people buy ready made osechi dishes instead of cooking them at home. It can be time-consuming to cook so many kinds of dishes. It's even possible to order osechi packed in boxes at department stores, super market, convenience stores or online shop in Japan.

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