New Years in Japan

 

Toshi Koshi soba  New Year’s Eve noodle for longevity
Photo at http://www.eicinengland.co.uk/english/paper/nov2.htm
Recipe at http://www.geocities.com/orientalcs/issues/iss_08.html  Scroll down to the middle.

 

Osechi Ryori:

Picture of Osechi and decorated mochi (rice cake)

http://staff.uscolo.edu/peterssl/topics/internatl/holidays/newyear-japan.htm

 

New Year Decoration photos

http://home.netyou.jp/xx/hughcook/photos/newyear2003no1.html
The first page coming up is useful photos.

 

The following are commonly seen dishes in Osechi and their meanings and symbols.
Go here for recipes: http://japanesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa120800a.htm

·  Ebi-no-saka-mushi (sake steamed shrimp) 
Shrimp = longevity

·  Date-maki (rolled sweet omelet) 
scroll-like-shape = academic success

·  Kurikinton (sweet mashed sweet potato with chestnuts) 
gold color = fortune, wealth

·  Kuro-mame (sweet black beans)
mame (beans) = hard working and health

·  Tazukuri (teriyaki small dried sardines)
small sardine = used as a fertilizer in a field = good harvest

·  Namasu (daikon and carrot pickles)
·  Pink and white kamaboko (fish paste loaf)
the color white (from daikon radish) and red or pink (from carrot) for happy occasions
Recipe: http://tanutech.com/japan/namasu.html#Japanese%20Namasu%20Recipe

·  Kazunoko (herring roe)
fish roe = fetility = happiness in the family

·  Tai-no-shio-yaki (grill sea bream)
Tai or sea bream = happy/joyous (occasions)  A Japanese word “medeTAI” means “happy, joyous, propitious (sign), auspicious (day), etc.”

·  Kobu--maki (rolled kelp with fish) 
Kobu or kelp = happy occasions  A Japanese word “yoroKOBU” means “to become happy due to a good news.”

·  Nimono (simmered dish) with gobo (burdock root), satoimo (taro), carrot, shiitake mushroom

·  Kinpira Gobo (braised burdock strips)

 

Comprehensive sites on Japan with Information on New Year:

http://gojapan.about.com/library/weekly/aa010199.htm
Click on Osechi-ryori for recepies

 

http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/culture/new_year.html
This sites contains good New-Year-key-words such as Oseibo, Bonenkai, etc.

 

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2064.html
This sites also contains good New-Year-key-words and more information such as religion (Shinto).  A photo of Osechi-ryori is available.

 

http://www.jun-gifts.com/others/culturalcalendar4/culturalcalendar4.htm
This site also contains Annual Events by months (photos and descriptions).

 

http://www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/calendar/january/gantan.html

This site also contains Annual Events by months (photos and descriptions for kids).

 

http://ilc2.doshisha.ac.jp/users/kkitao/library/student/01/d302/ohhigashi-6.htm
This site has a list of key words associated with Japanese New Year and more links and Annual Events by months (small children’s site)

 

http://www.chinesewhispers.info/japan2001-newyear.htm

A Japanese family’s site about their day in Oshogatsu (New Year).
Their breakfast contains ozoni (soup with mochi, or rice cake), date-maki (brown) and kamaboko (white, fish cake) and kobumaki (black) in the big white plate, nimono in a bowl, etc.
Click on “Life in Japan” to see kotatsu (a low table with underneath heater)) in winter.

 

http://www.geocities.com/orientalcs/issues/iss_08.html

This site contains receipes and New Year Customs in different countries such as Korea, philipino, Burmese, Laotian, Thai, Indian, Tibetan, etc. 

 

 

Sites specific to some New Year terms:

 

Beautiful photos of Japanese with Omikuji (fortune telling paper at a shrine)

http://phototravels.net/japan/photo-gallery/newyear.html
 

Kohaku: Red vs. White Singing Contest Show (description)

http://www.tokujo.ac.jp/Tanaka/Hello7/keiko-h7.htm

 

 

Other sites of interests:

I listed some of the sites I came across when I was searching on the web.

 

New Year Greeting by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan

http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/egokansou/egokansou-00.html

 

Japanese Food (for kids)

http://www.jinjapan.org/kidsweb/cook.html

 

12-year cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar with animal Eastern zodiac

http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/akemasu.htm

 

Chinese New Year

http://www.web-holidays.com/lunar/

 

Lucky food around the world

http://www.allrecipes.com/cb/w2m/seaspec/holiday/newyear/lucky/default.asp