Osechi facts for kids

Osechi foods packed into jubako

Osechi is a special type of Japanese food prepared to celebrate the New Year, known as Shogatsu. This is one of the most important yearly events in Japan. Osechi dishes are carefully placed in colorful lacquer boxes called jubako. Each dish and ingredient in osechi has a special meaning. These meanings often include wishes for good health, many children, a good harvest, happiness, and a long life. The types of osechi foods eaten can be different depending on the area in Japan. It is a Japanese tradition to enjoy osechi dishes during the New Year's holidays, usually from January 1 to January 3.

The Story Behind Osechi

Long ago, there was a time when food was scarce in Japan. People did not have enough rice. Emperor Nintoku was very worried about this. He decided to lower taxes during years when people struggled to find enough food for New Year's Day. Because of this, the Emperor's own household became poor. Japanese people celebrated this kind act on New Year's Day. Osechi-ryori is a meal that is cooked before New Year's Eve to be eaten on New Year's Day.

On New Year's Day, a special god called Toshigami is believed to visit the world. This visit marks the start of a new year. The god was thought to enter homes through a special gate called a Kadomatsu. Toshigami is the god of farming. In the past, when farming was the main way of life in Japan, people welcomed Toshigami. They hoped for a rich harvest. Special decorations, like a shimekazari, were put up to welcome the god. Another decoration, a wakazari, was used to ensure good luck for the coming year. Osechi is seen as a meal offered to Toshigami. In Japan, people would offer the first part of their crops to the gods. The rest of the celebration was a big feast called naorai.

A Look at Osechi History

The idea of osechi began during the Yayoi period, which was from about 1000 BC to 300 AD. During this time, people started to grow rice. As part of harvest festivals, known as Sekku, people would prepare food gifts for the gods. Sekku foods were eaten to thank the gods for nature's blessings, good harvests, and successful fishing. This was the start of osechi. This tradition originally came from China.

During the Heian period (710 to 1185), this event became more common in Japan. China's influence grew stronger. There were five main seasonal festival days, or sekku:

• January 7 (Jinjitsu or Nanakusa no sekku)
• March 3 (Joshi or Momo no sekku)
• May 5 (Tango or Shobu no sekku)
• July 7 (Tanabata no sekku)
• September 9 (Choyo or Kiku no sekku)

On these days, a table with offerings was set up for the gods. The foods offered were usually dry and not processed for people to eat. The osechi we know today comes from the Edo period (1603–1867). Nowadays, many Japanese families buy their osechi from stores instead of making it at home.

Different Kinds of Osechi Dishes

There are many different osechi foods. Each one has a special meaning. The shape, color, and name of each food can bring good luck, happiness, or a long life.

One type of osechi is made from black soybeans and herring roe. Black is a color that suggests youth and a long life. The name of the black soybean means that people can live a long life without sickness. Herring roe stands for having many children, because each piece has a lot of roe.

Chestnuts are sometimes rolled into an omelet mixed with fish paste. Chestnuts can mean a lot of gold. They represent the wish for success in business and becoming wealthy. A rolled dish made with fish paste can mean culture and hard work. This is because its rolled shape looks like a scroll. Red steamed fish paste means getting rid of evil. White steamed fish paste means having a pure mind. Kelp is a symbol of celebration and long life. It is a lucky food that brings happiness.

Examples of Osechi Dishes and Their Meanings

The dishes that make up osechi each have a special meaning for celebrating the New Year. Here are some examples:

• Daidai (橙, だいだい): This is a Japanese bitter orange. The word Daidai can mean "from generation to generation" when written with different kanji. Like kazunoko, it symbolizes a wish for many children in the New Year.
• Datemaki [ja] (伊達巻 or 伊達巻き or だてまき): This is a sweet rolled omelet mixed with fish paste or mashed shrimp. It symbolizes a wish for many lucky days. On special days (晴れの日, hare-no-hi), Japanese people traditionally wear nice clothes to enjoy themselves. One meaning of the second kanji in Datemaki is "fashionable". This comes from the fancy clothes worn by samurai from the Date Han.
• Kamaboko (蒲鉾, かまぼこ): This is broiled fish cake. Usually, slices of red and white kamaboko are placed in rows or patterns. The colors and shape remind people of Japan's rising sun. They have a happy, festive meaning.
• Kazunoko (数の子, かずのこ): This is herring roe (fish eggs). Kazu means "number" and ko means "child". It symbolizes a wish to have many children in the New Year.
• Konbu (昆布): This is a type of seaweed. It is linked to the word yorokobu, which means "joy".
• Kuro-mame [ja] (黒豆, くろまめ): These are black soybeans. Mame also means "health". So, this dish symbolizes a wish for good health in the New Year.
• Kōhaku-namasu (紅白なます): This dish means "red-white vegetable kuai". It is made from daikon radish and carrots cut into thin strips. They are pickled in sweetened vinegar with a yuzu citrus flavor.
• Tai (鯛, たい): This is red sea-bream. Tai is connected to the Japanese word medetai, which means a happy or lucky event.
• Tazukuri [ja] (田作り): These are dried sardines cooked in soy sauce. The kanji in tazukuri literally mean "rice paddy maker". This is because these fish were historically used to fertilize rice fields. This dish symbolizes a wish for a big harvest.
• Zōni (雑煮): This is a soup with mochi rice cakes. In eastern Japan, it's usually in a clear broth. In western Japan, it's often in miso broth.
• Ebi (海老, えび): These are skewered prawns cooked with sake and soy sauce. They symbolize a wish for a long life, like an old person with a long beard and bent back.
• Nishiki tamago (錦卵/二色玉子): This is an egg roulade. The egg yolk and white are cooked separately. The yellow represents gold, and the white represents silver. Together, they symbolize wealth and good fortune.
• Zenzai: This is a hot dessert soup made from sweet red beans. It is often served with toasted rice cakes (mochi) or smaller shiratama dango (mini rice cakes). It is similar to shiruko.

Images for kids

• 

  Another example of Osechi, a more casual type.