Osechi dishes (New Year dishes) are eaten at New Year’s to celebrate the new year. The food is offered to the Toshigami (gods of the New Year) who are present in each household at New Year’s, and is eaten after the year is over as a blessing from the gods. The ingredients and menu items used in Osechi are filled with wishes for a bountiful harvest, good health, and the prosperity of offspring. Osechi are also filled in layered boxes, which are meant to “bring happiness over and over again.
26 items of traditional Japanese new-year foods
Traditional 3 tiered bento box
decorated with 18k-gold leaf
The art of Japanese fabric wrapping is prized
Osechi dishes (New Year dishes) are eaten at New Year’s to celebrate the new year. The food is offered to the Toshigami (gods of the New Year) who are present in each household at New Year’s, and is eaten after the year is over as a blessing from the gods. The ingredients and menu items used in Osechi are filled with wishes for a bountiful harvest, good health, and the prosperity of offspring. Osechi are also filled in layered boxes, which are meant to “bring happiness over and over again.
26 items of traditional Japanese new-year foods
Traditional 3 tiered bento box decorated with 18k-gold leaf
The art of Japanese fabric wrapping is prized
| Order | : Now Available |
| Pick-up Time | : 12/31 4:00 – 6:00 PM |
| Pick-up Location | : Lagu Café |
| Order | : Now Available |
| Pick-up Time | : 12/31 4:00 – 6:00 PM |
| Pick-up Location | : Lagu Café |
Osechi is one of the foods with a history of more than 1,000 years, from 794 to 1185 during the Heian period. In the beginning, food was offered to the gods at the beginning of each new season. The most important offerings were made during the New Year’s Sekku (harvest festival). The upper classes also participated in this fertility feast, which came to be known as Osechi. In the Edo period (1603-1867), this feast was eaten in more and more households. Today, it is practiced every year in almost every household. Osechi boxes are meant to “pile up” the happiness and good fortune of the year.
The ingredients and menu items used in Osechi ryori are filled with wishes for a bountiful harvest, good health, and the prosperity of offspring. Osechi dishes are also made in tiered boxes, which are meant to “bring happiness to the people”. Most Osechi dishes have three to five tiers. Some say that five-tiered or four-tiered boxes are more formal, but these days the three-tiered boxes are more compact. It is also decided which tier is to be filled with what kind of food.
Shrimp
As Kanji’s character for “shrimp” is written “海老(Sea, aged ones)”, the long whiskers and curvature of the shrimp’s body are compared to that of an old man, and it has long been considered a symbol of longevity. Therefore, it is used as an ingredient in Osechi dishes with the wish that one will live a long and healthy life in the new year, until one’s waist bends.
Rolled Omelet
Datemaki (Rolled Omelet) is a dish made from egg and hanpen as main ingredients. It is a good-luck item to wish for “increased wisdom” because of its gorgeous appearance and its shape, which resembles a scroll like a book. Some say that the word “date,” meaning gaudy or fashionable, was used for this dish because of its bright color, meaning a fancy omelet.
Black Soybeans
The meaning of kuromame (black soybeans) is “to wish for vigor, strength, and a healthy life. The word “mame” in the Osechi dish of black soybeans has the meaning of vigor, strength, and health. The word “mame” in Osechi cuisine means “vigor,” “strength,” and “health.” It has also been an indispensable part of Osechi cuisine since ancient times because of its association with the words work hard and live hard.
Red and White Fish Cake
The color red is to ward off evil, and the color white means purity. It is also said to be reminiscent of the first sunrise of the new year, as the semi-circular shape of the fish cake when cut into pieces reminds people of the sunrise. It has long been used as a substitute for raw fish, which cannot be preserved for long periods of time, and its gorgeous red and white coloring adds a beautiful touch to Osechi.
Osechi is one of the foods with a history of more than 1,000 years, from 794 to 1185 during the Heian period. In the beginning, food was offered to the gods at the beginning of each new season. The most important offerings were made during the New Year’s Sekku (harvest festival). The upper classes also participated in this fertility feast, which came to be known as Osechi. In the Edo period (1603-1867), this feast was eaten in more and more households. Today, it is practiced every year in almost every household. Osechi boxes are meant to “pile up” the happiness and good fortune of the year.
The ingredients and menu items used in Osechi ryori are filled with wishes for a bountiful harvest, good health, and the prosperity of offspring. Osechi dishes are also made in tiered boxes, which are meant to “bring happiness to the people”. Most Osechi dishes have three to five tiers. Some say that five-tiered or four-tiered boxes are more formal, but these days the three-tiered boxes are more compact. It is also decided which tier is to be filled with what kind of food.
Shrimp
As Kanji’s character for “shrimp” is written “海老(Sea, aged ones)”, the long whiskers and curvature of the shrimp’s body are compared to that of an old man, and it has long been considered a symbol of longevity. Therefore, it is used as an ingredient in Osechi dishes with the wish that one will live a long and healthy life in the new year, until one’s waist bends.
Rolled Omelet
Datemaki (Rolled Omelet) is a dish made from egg and hanpen as main ingredients. It is a good-luck item to wish for “increased wisdom” because of its gorgeous appearance and its shape, which resembles a scroll like a book. Some say that the word “date,” meaning gaudy or fashionable, was used for this dish because of its bright color, meaning a fancy omelet.
Black Soybeans
The meaning of kuromame (black soybeans) is “to wish for vigor, strength, and a healthy life. The word “mame” in the Osechi dish of black soybeans has the meaning of vigor, strength, and health. The word “mame” in Osechi cuisine means “vigor,” “strength,” and “health.” It has also been an indispensable part of Osechi cuisine since ancient times because of its association with the words work hard and live hard.
Red and White Fish Cake
The color red is to ward off evil, and the color white means purity. It is also said to be reminiscent of the first sunrise of the new year, as the semi-circular shape of the fish cake when cut into pieces reminds people of the sunrise. It has long been used as a substitute for raw fish, which cannot be preserved for long periods of time, and its gorgeous red and white coloring adds a beautiful touch to Osechi.
Oju is an indispensable container for New Year’s osechi dishes. The moment you open the lid, you can’t help but feel a thrill of excitement. It is said that the use of Oju for Osechi dishes is also a wish for “a string of happiness”. Oju is a symbol of good luck.
Jyu-bako (stacked boxes) were already in use in the Muromachi period (1333-1573). Initially, they were used as a type of tea utensil. In the Edo period (1603-1867), luxurious lacquered stacked boxes began to be made and used as a kind of lunch box with handles. From the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period (1868-1912), it became common to pack New Year’s dishes in stacked boxes, and this custom has continued to the present day.
Oju are indispensable for Osechi cuisine, but it may be a bit of a waste to use them only during the New Year’s holiday.
Oju is a container that can be used in everyday life as well. It can be enjoyed as a lunch box for sports events, cherry blossom viewing, and picnics, filled with onigiri (rice balls) and side dishes. You can stylishly serve hors d’oeuvres and enjoy them with wine, or place sweets in a fashionable manner and they will be appreciated as a teatime presentation for entertaining.
The fun part of oju is that each time you open it, you will see a succession of treats. Please consider using these features to create a wonderful presentation.
Although our Ojyu is a crafted product, it is also easy to handle, with a solid coating and can be washed with a neutral detergent. This is a container that should be used not only for special occasions, but also for everyday use, such as when you fill it with a small feast.
The beautiful design of Kanazawa gold foil can also be enjoyed as interior decoration by placing it on a visible shelf even when not in use.
According to feng shui and other beliefs, the presence of gold, especially on the west side, is also believed to increase one’s luck in money. The beautiful gold shine also makes the whole interior gorgeous.
Oju is an indispensable container for New Year’s osechi dishes. The moment you open the lid, you can’t help but feel a thrill of excitement. It is said that the use of Oju for Osechi dishes is also a wish for “a string of happiness”. Oju is a symbol of good luck.
Jyu-bako (stacked boxes) were already in use in the Muromachi period (1333-1573). Initially, they were used as a type of tea utensil. In the Edo period (1603-1867), luxurious lacquered stacked boxes began to be made and used as a kind of lunch box with handles. From the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period (1868-1912), it became common to pack New Year’s dishes in stacked boxes, and this custom has continued to the present day.
Oju are indispensable for Osechi cuisine, but it may be a bit of a waste to use them only during the New Year’s holiday.
Oju is a container that can be used in everyday life as well. It can be enjoyed as a lunch box for sports events, cherry blossom viewing, and picnics, filled with onigiri (rice balls) and side dishes. You can stylishly serve hors d’oeuvres and enjoy them with wine, or place sweets in a fashionable manner and they will be appreciated as a teatime presentation for entertaining.
The fun part of oju is that each time you open it, you will see a succession of treats. Please consider using these features to create a wonderful presentation.
Although our Ojyu is a crafted product, it is also easy to handle, with a solid coating and can be washed with a neutral detergent. This is a container that should be used not only for special occasions, but also for everyday use, such as when you fill it with a small feast.
The beautiful design of Kanazawa gold foil can also be enjoyed as interior decoration by placing it on a visible shelf even when not in use.
According to feng shui and other beliefs, the presence of gold, especially on the west side, is also believed to increase one’s luck in money. The beautiful gold shine also makes the whole interior gorgeous.
Keiko was born and raised in Japan. She graduated from Le Cordon Blue LA with summa cum laude. After graduating, she became a Japanese-French fusion chef and has taught over 3,000 students in the US, Japan, and Taiwan. Outside the classroom, she has also worked as a head chef in West LA. Today, she is spreading traditional Japanese culture through her original recipes in the US.
Limited 15 orders, $400.00 each
28 Osechi items, 3 tiered Oju box, Furoshiki wrapping
Japan Imports Now Osechi order uses Jotform for order processing. Please note that Jotform handles your personal information and data but us. For more details, see their Privacy Policy and Terms.
December 31st (Sat) 4:00 -6:00 PM
Lagu Cafe | 17779 Main St, Irvine, CA 92614
Limited 15 orders, $400.00 each
28 Osechi items, 3 tiered Oju box, Furoshiki wrapping
Japan Imports Now Osechi order uses Jotform for order processing. Please note that Jotform handles your personal information and data but us. For more details, see their Privacy Policy and Terms.
December 31st (Sat) 4:00 -6:00 PM
Lagu Cafe | 17779 Main St, Irvine, CA 92614
California Delivered California Proposition 65:
This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
For more information: https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/
