Osechi Ryori, Japan's Traditional New Years Feast

Happy 2022 everyone!

With 2021 behind us, we're sure everyone is eagerly awaiting a better year in travel in 2022. One of the ways we welcome the new year is with the New Years feast called osechi ryori. This traditional New Year's meal is
typically prepared a few days before January 1st so that everybody can enjoy the company of family without
worrying about cooking during this busy time of the year. Each household has its own spin on osechi, although
almost all will have layers of symbolism and meaning laced throughout its ingredients and dishes, right down
to the boxes it is displayed in.

Osechi ryori is kept in multi-tiered lacquered boxes, symbolizing the hope that health and wellbeing will
come continuously. Much like the boxes' layered symbolism, almost all osechi ryori dishes and ingredients
have auspicious meanings, such as long life, good health, financial success, and wishes for more joyful
occasions in the future.

For example, many believe eating Datemaki sweet rolled omelette with mashed shrimp or fish paste will bring a good year of wisdom and success in studies, perhaps because of its appearance as an academic scroll from the
side. Candied chestnuts symbolize the hope for economic fortune, which isn't surprising considering the gold
hues of the chestnuts. Baby sardines roasted with sweet soy sauce is another popular osechi ryori dish,
symbolizing a bountiful harvest. Kazunoko herring roe literally means "number" and "child," representing
a wish to be gifted with children in the New Year.

While not entirely part of the osechi ryori set meal, another of Japan's New Year's customs is to slurp up a
healthy dose of buckwheat soba noodles. The new year's rendition is called toshikoshi soba, as many
households enjoy a delicious serving of buckwheat noodles on the stroke of midnight (though it depends on
each household.) Their long shape symbolizes a long and healthy life, though making a deliberate attempt to
chew partway through the noodles also serves as a way to "break away from the old year."

So, in the spirit of starting fresh, let us break away from 2021 and look towards a better year of travel in 2022!