I was at the Japanese breakfast market in Berlin a few weeks ago and it was kind of disappointing as a Japanese. Why it´s always so crowded and expensive for such a small amount?

In winter, no one wants to wash rice with cold water but some how, Japanese people are told to do so since child. Is there any particular reason? Why can we not wash it with warm water?

It´s been a while since Ehomaki has become another part of Setsubun in Japan. Despite of sushi industry´s promotion, people are still quite not used to it. And this year, the mass of leftover sushi rolls caught Japanese citizen´s attention.

Today 16th of June is the day of Wagashi. At one era, all daimyo queued to get some sweets from the shogun. Here is a little history about Wagashi.

Do you love trying new taste and always look for a new challenge? Then try Osuya. They are specialised in vinegar and you can do a vinegar tasting, which changes your idea about vinegar.

Kon-nyaku is one of the ingredients Japanese people regularly eat. It´s known for very low calories and often eaten as a diet food. You can even make it at home as long as you can get a kon-nyaku imo. I was quite fascinated to see and want to share with you.

Happy New Year!! How did you spend the New Year´s Eve? This year I decided to join the celebration on the street, which means buying tons of rocket fireworks and shoot them up over one hour. My Vietnamese neighbour was so serious about this and had bought a car wheel sized firecrackers from their country. Of course, no one could win them. 

Oshogatsu (お正月/ New Year) is one of the most important events in Japan. Although things have become normal, people are still in the New Year feeling. All I want to say is, I´m not so late to tell you "Happy New Year!!". 2015 is a year of sheep. We will see, what sort of adventures it will bring us. Or perhaps you may have a good plan for the year. Have you decided any New Year resolution? Me? I like to visit as many friends as possible. They are spread all ove the world but I like to try to see them. Now, what´s yours?

 

Osechi ryouri (おせち料理) is the traditional dish Japanese people eat during the New Year. Like the turkey during the Christmas in the western world, Japanese eat osechi every day for the first few days of the New Year. The reason behind is to make women rest from cooking. Most of osechi is eaten cold and the rest of the typical foods are very easy to cook. You can either just re-heat or bake it on the stove like mochi (もち/ rice cakes). 

Although many houses buy it from a supermarket or a famous restaurant, still there are families who cook their own osechi. People upload their homemade osechi to their blogs. I love to see them because each family has their own style. Also it changes in the different regions, which is even more interesting. 

One thing is common. During Oshogatsu, the family sits at the kotatsu (炬燵) and eat osechi while watching university ekiden (駅伝). If you have a Japanese friend in Japan, it´d be interesting for you to spend one New Year with them. I´m sure you will have a great experience.

   

So let´s peek some families to see what kind of osechi ryouri they have eaten this year. Are there anything common? There are as many types of osechi as the number of the families. 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a while, people get tired of eating osechi, just like you may get tired of turkey and cranberry sauce after the Christmas. This family made a new plate using the left over from the osechi box. Looks good.  

 

 

And of course exists "Kyara Osechi (キャラおせち)". Sheep oinari are cute. 

 

 

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More about the New Year and the foods

Shogatsu

New Year decorations

Osechi ryori

Porridge day

Seijin no hi

 Akemashite omedetou

Happy New Year in Tokyo

Japanese wives make bento for the husband even they are annoyed and angry with him. Those obento are called Shikaeshi bento – revenge bento-. They are mean but somehow sweet and humorous. What would you do if you have one of them?

I was given some Ginnan (ginkgo nuts) by a neighbour. In Japan it´s common to eat it and is one of the autumn taste as well as chestnuts. It may be too nutritious so it´s better to eat not so much. Here I´ll show you how to prepare.

Do you know what day is today? It´s Yasai no hi in Japan. Do you know why?