New Years Day – Oshogatsu Osechi

It’s January 1st or “oshogatsu”. Thanksgiving, Christmas and even birthdays have nothing on this day for Japanese families. My photos are of food, but know that the annual feast that’s cooked mainly by my mother but also my aunt and uncle, is for a family get together. We don’t have a shrine to visit as many do in Japan, so we have a special meal that we don’t forget for the rest of the year.

Like any special day, whatever it may be, one would hope it wouldn’t take a date on a calendar to make it come back. I know life can’t be Disneyland everyday, but once a year isn’t often enough. Twice would be nicer, right? Then you have to think: work is maybe 5 days a week, for almost every week and a special day is just one day. It doesn’t make much sense. Hopefully we’ll all figure out how to make this happen one day soon and value things that are really important.

Hope you enjoy the photos. Happy New Year. There are additional photos at the end in the set.

 

 

chicken drumettes and ribs

The good luck black beans.

Kazunoko, a new years item.

Sushi

sekihan

Assorted kanten

mussels

 

There’s two similar plates of mixed seafood. How cauliflower fits, I don’t know.

renkon chips

Cousin Mike objects to sea snails.

 

The toast with sake.

IMG_3486 IMG_3480 IMG_3493 IMG_3491 IMG_3478 IMG_3450 IMG_3447 IMG_3419 IMG_3416 IMG_3471 IMG_3475 IMG_3476 IMG_3474 IMG_3467 IMG_3466 IMG_3465 IMG_3464 IMG_3462 IMG_3460 IMG_3459 IMG_3457 IMG_3456 IMG_3455 IMG_3454 IMG_3452 IMG_3434 IMG_3433 IMG_3432 IMG_3429 IMG_3428 IMG_3424 IMG_3423 IMG_3421 IMG_3420 IMG_3415 IMG_3414 IMG_3413 IMG_3411