New Year Morning in Japan

Japanese families commonly begin the New Year with a traditional meal of ozoni which means 'mixed simmerings'. The soup-like dish consists of a fish or kelp stock to which various items are added such as freshly made mochi rice as well as vegetables such as daikon, spinach, carrots and potatoes. The special foods consumed during the New Year holiday are called 'osechi-ryori'. These foods are typically hearty and easy to prepare allowing family members to relax and enjoy the most important holiday within the Japanese calendar.

Our family typically enjoys ozoni at the grandparents home followed by prayers at the Butsudan home altar. This tradition is very old in Japan and is similar in many ways to the traditional Christmas dinner gatherings which are important in many Western countries.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• Japanese
• New
• Year
• morning
• Tokaido
• Softypapa

[p0611010]

Did Emiri get Otoshidama from American family?

[softypapa]

@p0611010 No, Emily didn't get Otoshidama from her family in the States. She did get some cool Christmas gifts, though! ~Kurt :-)

[TiramisuHappy]

I don't have a statistical data to back it up, but I've heard many times that during the "sangan-nichi" (the first three days of the new year) the fire departments around Japan get more 911 calls (119 in Japan) than any other time of the year mainly because of people (especially the elderly and children) choking on mochi in Ozouni.

In a country where so many of those glutinous rice cakes are consumed, the government should be sending the Heimlich maneuver poster to each and every household!

[softypapa]

Hello TiramisuHappy, I've heard this same information and I can certainly understand how it could be true.

[BusanKevin]

Not a mochi fan? I don't mind it! i probably wouldn't want it everyday though.

[softypapa]

Hi Kevin, I'm not sure just what it is about mochi which does not work for me though I tend to avoid it. I sometimes like the grilled mochi with a little soy sauce though the boiled type is something I just can't eat. I always instead cook a little toast instead on New Year's day. :-)

[anwahi]

ozoni...ozoni...ozoni...ozoni.­..ozoni...toast LOL

[TiramisuHappy]

I LOVE that uncomfortable, deafening silence immediately following his admission to his dislike of mochi.

Aaawk-waaaaaarrrrrd! ; P

[putti8935]

can you tell me the age of emily

[merrituber1]

I love to see how traditions such as these still exist and are practiced today without much or any change.

[PinkBabey]

Ah, love mochi! 

[Kfreeks]

So, what do you pray for in front of the Butsudan?

Are there special prayers that you have to go through in your mind? I mean, similar to Christian prayers, for example.

Last thing I'd like to know is whether there are special prayers in the shinto-religion.

Have a wonderful day. :-)

[joycechu1963]

awww, your daughter is soo cute!



[Theytoldmetodoit1]

Just seen this video (I am some what behind, sorry) This is a great video. I actually like mochi...LOL!

This is a really nice and heart warming video.

[Jimaera]

Heartwarming. Something about seeing your family all together for a modest, humble New Year's celebration made me feel oddly nostalgic. I lol'd at the "Ozoni... ozoni... ozoni... WTFtoast" bit. XD Is that your daughter? She's adorable, hehe.

[kanariya2010]

娘さん、papaの顔を覗き込んでる（笑）

可愛らしいですね。＾ ＾