Japanese New Years Food: Osechi-ryōri 御節料理

One of the greatest things about living in Japan is the food. I simply love Japanese cuisine, known in Japanese as "Nihon ryori" 日本料理. I suppose the fact that I have a family with some wonderful cooks also helps.

Today was January 1, 2011 and for the first time in my three years in Japan we didn't go to Nishinomiya Shrine for Hatsumode 初詣 . Instead, my wife, son and I went to spend the afternoon with my in-laws in Osaka. We took the train to their house to eat a traditional New Years meal known as Osechi-ryōri 御節料理 or お節料理. my mother-in-law had prepared some food and ordered some as well. We also filled ourselves with Sukiyaki すき焼き.

After an amazing meal and too much of it, we rolled back to Kobe. The amazing thing is that my in-laws had ordered an Osechi-ryori set for us to eat tomorrow. It is brilliant looking and the pictures will come tomorrow.

Enjoy some of the Osechi-ryori from today!














I hope everyone had a wonderful time last night ringing in the new year with family and friends. I stayed at home with my family and watched the NHK New Years special, Kōhaku Uta Gassen 紅白歌合戦. It may not have been the most exciting thing to do, but I had a wonderful time.

2010...been there, done that!

2010 is about to come to an end and the Year of the Rabbit is about to begin.

The year was a wonderful ride of ups and downs for me. Luckily, it was about 95% ups. This is my third year living in Japan and was also the year my wife and I had our first child.

Here are a few signs that the year is changing in Japan:

Ebisu Beer, one of Japan's premium brewers has come up with limited time packaging to bring in 2011.


Traditionally, many Japanese people eat soba (buckwheat noodles) そば or 蕎麦 on New Years Eve. This was dinner at my house this evening. My wife prepared a soba soup with tempura shrimp. As you can imagine by the picture, it was delicious.



Nihonshu 日本酒 or sake is a very popular drink on New Years Eve and New Years day. this is the biggest holiday of the year in japan and people enjoy having their liquid happiness to celebrate the holiday! i tok this at my local supermarket this afternoon here in Kobe.


During the New Year, Japanese people tend to eat a lot of mochi 餅. Mochi is essentially a doughy rice cake. it is baked, eaten as is or used in soup on new years day morning.


This is a common gift set given during the new Year. Japanese people are very big on giving gifts. this particular beer/juice set was given t my family by a good friend of mine. He isn't Japanese, but has been in Japan for some time and honours traditions.


This beautiful flower arrangement was given to my family by my sister-in-law. She is a florist in Osaka and made this new Years style arrangement herself. it is an awesome gift to bring in the New Year here in Japan.

I wish everyone out the a very Happy New Year!