It’s New Year’s Day, and we decided to kick off 2026 with some osechi (御節), the traditional Japanese meal for the new year prepared in advance to be served during the first few days of the year. In the old days, many restaurants are closed during this period, and home cooks also get the chance to have a break, so having a few days’ supply of dishes that can be served without reheating became the way to survive for a few days.
