New Year's is a great time to really experience a lot of tradition in Japan as there are so many things going on. It basically runs from Dec 31st to Jan 3rd and the whole country takes a break from busy life to be with family, celebrate and relax. I was lucky enough to be invited to experience this festive tradition yet again this year in the traditonal way. The main parts of of 'Oshougatsu' (New Year) seem to be eating, games, sleeping, TV, shopping, and a visit to the local Shrine. I will cover the Shrine visit and shopping in the next post. Ok, first the food (my favorite part)...
Many different types of food are eaten during this time, the centerpiece being the 'Osechi' which is made up of variety of pickled and stewed vegtables, sashimi and dried fish, meat, and other delicacies which are served in stackable, black-lacquered trays. Basically all the ingredients represent the wishes for long life, wealth, happiness, and a fresh start to the new year. Other foods come before or after the osechi, such as soba noodles called 'toshi-koshi soba', which represents the wish for long life (long soba noodles, get it?). Then on New Year's you eat 'ozouni', which is a delicious soup with warm, gooey omochi(glutenous rice cakes) inside. Its a favorite for most people and certainly one of mine.
All these yummy foods are enjoyed traditionally around a 'kotatsu', which is a low table that is heated and has a blanket attached to keep in the heat. Usually only houses that have 'tatami' (straw-mat floor) have kotatsu. Everyone sits under the kotatsu's heated blanket and then lies down under it to watch TV, sleep and roll around (gorogoro), and then wake up and eat again. Its really an eating and sleeping marathon with lots of leg-kicking as members jockey for position under the table.
Speaking of TV, there are some great shows that people do not miss during this time. The biggest are the fighting events (Pride and K-1) and 'Kouhaku' (means red and white which are celebration colors in Japan). Kouhaku splits famous singers into 2 teams , red and white, as they compete for the audience's vote for the prize. Everyone pretty much flips between these 2 types of shows between naps.
Oshougatsu reminds me a lot of Thankgiving with all the emphasis on family, eating and napping, etc. Its a great family holiday and a needed break from the daily grind for everyone, I think. I feel lucky to have been able to participate in it. Here are some more pics of the osechi I enjoyed...
