Introduction: A Symbol of the New Year on the Japanese Table
In Japan, no New Year celebration is complete without osechi ryōri (おせち料理), the beautifully arranged dishes packed into lacquered boxes called jūbako (重箱). More than a feast, it is a symbolic meal expressing gratitude for the past year and prayers for happiness, longevity, and prosperity in the year ahead. Each dish carries meaning, and the colors and shapes are chosen with great care to reflect harmony and joy.
The word osechi (お節) originally referred to food served during sekku (節句), the seasonal turning points in the ancient court calendar. Over time it came to mean the dishes prepared specifically for New Year’s Day. At its heart, osechi ryōri is an offering to Toshigami-sama (年神様), the deity of the year, and a way to share divine blessings among family through food.
Historical Background: From Sacred Offering to Family Feast
The origins of osechi ryōri can be traced to the Heian period and the imperial ceremonies known as sechie (節会), where people offered food to the gods at each change of season. After the rituals, the offerings were shared among participants, symbolizing communion between humans and deities. This idea gradually spread among common people and evolved into the New Year dishes of later centuries.
By the Edo period, families prepared osechi as an offering to the household altar before eating it together. Each item carried both gratitude toward the gods and a wish for family prosperity. Because people believed that the kitchen deity should rest during the first three days of the year, they avoided cooking and instead prepared food in advance that would keep well without reheating. Thus the custom combined faith with practical wisdom, allowing families to celebrate while letting both gods and humans rest.
Structure and Symbolism: The Layers of Celebration
Traditionally, osechi ryōri is arranged in tiered boxes called jūbako (重箱), which symbolize the layering of happiness and prosperity. Formal sets may have five layers, while three are most common in modern homes. Each layer, or no-jū, contains specific types of dishes.
The first layer, ichi-no-jū, holds celebratory foods called iwai-zakana (祝い肴), such as black beans, herring roe, and dried sardines.
The second layer, ni-no-jū, features grilled seafood such as sea bream, yellowtail, and shrimp, representing abundance from the sea.
The third layer, san-no-jū, contains simmered vegetables from the mountains and fields, symbolizing stability and family unity.
The fourth layer is called yo-no-jū (与の重) instead of shi-no-jū (四の重) because the word 四 (four) sounds the same as 死 (death), which is considered unlucky in Japanese culture.
The fifth layer, go-no-jū, is sometimes left empty, expressing hope that future happiness may be added in the coming year.
Color harmony is also meaningful: red and white signify celebration and purity, while gold and black convey strength and wealth. Opening the jūbako reveals not only the beauty of the food but also the layered wishes of those who prepared it.
Signature Dishes and Their Meanings
Every item in osechi ryōri has its own symbolism and story.
Kuromame (黒豆, black soybeans) represents diligence and good health. The word mame means “hardworking,” and the glossy black surface protects against misfortune.
Kazunoko (数の子, herring roe) symbolizes fertility and the prosperity of future generations.
Tazukuri (田作り, dried baby sardines simmered in soy sauce) expresses a wish for a rich harvest, recalling the time when sardines were used as fertilizer for rice fields.
Ebi (海老, shrimp or prawn) stands for longevity, as its curved back resembles an elderly person, and its red color wards off evil spirits.
Kobumaki (昆布巻き, rolled kelp) represents joy, since kobu echoes yorokobu (“to rejoice”).
Datemaki (伊達巻, sweet rolled omelet) symbolizes learning and knowledge because its scroll shape resembles a rolled manuscript.
Kōhaku Kamaboko (紅白かまぼこ, red and white fish cakes) combines the colors of happiness and purity, and the semicircle shape recalls the rising sun.
Kurikinton (栗きんとん, mashed sweet potato with chestnuts) glows golden and represents wealth and good fortune.
Together these dishes form a vocabulary of blessings written in food. Every bite is both nourishment and prayer.
Family and Connection
Eating osechi ryōri is also a time of family connection. For three days families gather around the same table, sharing food and welcoming the year together. The flavors carry memories as much as taste—of gratitude, affection, and belonging. Many families prepare osechi in late December, filling the house with the aroma of simmered vegetables and soy sauce. Recipes passed down through generations preserve not only technique but also emotion, turning osechi ryōri into a living record of family history.
Modern Osechi: Change and Diversity
In modern Japan, osechi ryōri has diversified. While it was once entirely homemade, today it can be ordered from department stores, restaurants, and even convenience stores. Some families buy luxurious versions prepared by professional chefs; others choose single-person boxes or Western-style menus with roast beef or terrine. Food culture evolves, yet the act of sharing osechi at New Year remains constant.
Originally, osechi ryōri also served a practical purpose. In earlier times, stores and markets closed during the New Year holidays, and people refrained from using fire to allow the kitchen deity to rest. Because of this, the dishes were designed to last several days without spoiling. Today, however, this need has disappeared. Convenience stores, supermarkets, and restaurants stay open even during the holidays, making it easy to buy meals anytime. As a result, many younger people feel little reason or interest to prepare osechi ryōri, and some families no longer eat it at all. Others enjoy only a few favorite items or replace traditional dishes with Western-style food. These changes show how Japanese customs continue to adapt to modern life.
Even with these shifts, osechi ryōri still represents gratitude and abundance. Whether homemade or purchased, its presence on the table connects the new year to centuries of faith and celebration.
Conclusion: Tasting Gratitude and Hope
More than a meal, osechi ryōri embodies three essential values: gratitude, prayer, and connection. When the jūbako is opened, smiles appear naturally. Inside lie joy for the year to come and appreciation for the chance to share it. Through all its changes, osechi ryōri continues to express the same simple truth: to begin the year with thankfulness.
On New Year’s morning, when you lift your chopsticks and taste a single black bean, you are participating in a tradition that carries both history and hope. Each flavor contains a quiet wish for the year ahead. Osechi ryōri remains a bridge between past and future, between people and gods, between nourishment and gratitude. As long as families gather around the table in early January, this beautiful custom will continue to shine gently at the heart of the Japanese New Year.