Nima-kai Oshogatsu Traditions
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In conjunction with the Japanese American National Museum’s Oshogatsu Virtual Family Festival (January 3–8, 2021), Discover Nikkei compiled photos to share our global Nikkei community’s New Year traditions.
We recommend you use the slideshow view to check out the photos shared by our Nima-kai community.
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2020 Oshogatsu ozoniSubmitted by: Vicky Murakami-Tsuda (California, USA) Every year, my mother makes ozoni on New Year’s Day. It’s the first breakfast I eat every year. She makes a pretty simple version. It has a clear broth, and she makes it with carrots and daikon cut into flower shapes (she has …
2020 Oshogatsu ozoni |
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OsechiSubmitted by: Yoko Nishimura (California, USA) I have lived in the US for over 20 years now. I love living here, but I always feel some kind of home sick if I spend time here at New Year's. In Japan, my family cooks various osechi from scratch. One year, … |
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Moriguchi Family Farm in 1936Submitted by: Bob Moriguchi (California, USA) The 3 Moriguchi brothers were farming in Mendocino County, California. Bob Moriguchi is the boy 2nd from right. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Araki)
Moriguchi Family Farm in 1936 |
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Fran Ito at JANM Oshogatsu Famliy Day, 2019Submitted by: Fran Ito (California, USA) This photo was taken of Fran Ito, JANM volunteer, at the 2019 Oshogatsu photo booth. It was a Fun Family Day at JANM.
JANM Oshogatsu Photo Booth in 2019 |
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Toasted brown rice mochi for ozoniSubmitted by: Michael Tanouye (Santa Monica, California, USA) When I was a child, my mom made clear ozoni with mochi. I uphold the tradition somewhat, making a miso-based vegetarian ozoni. I disliked how the mochi became gooey in the soup. Therefore, I bake the mochi in a toaster-oven at 400o …
Toasted brown rice mochi for ozoni |
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Ozoni with puffed brown rice mochiSubmitted by: Michael Tanouye (Santa Monica, California, USA) I make ozoni anytime in winter, not just New Years. Here is a photo of my miso-based vegan ozoni with a puffed brown rice mochi on top.
Ozoni with puffed brown rice mochi |
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Osechi to goSubmitted by: Cheryl Poff It’s the osechi I made this year. Since we can’t have people over, I made osechi to go to everyone and we dropped it off. My mom’s chicken salad and deviled eggs are her signature so we had to stick it in. If I don’t do …
Osechi to go |
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1st Osechi Ryori - Ozoni and KamabokoSubmitted by: Kenneth A. Hamada Photo 1 of 3: Ozoni and Kamaboko I was forced to attempt making my first Osechi Ryori at the age of 70 years old due to the stay-at-home restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic preventing social gatherings. No family get together meant no traditional feast …
Ozoni and Kamaboko |
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1st Osechi Ryori - Jubako TraysSubmitted by: Kenneth A. Hamada Photo 2 of 3: Jubako Trays I was forced to attempt making my first Osechi Ryori at the age of 70 years old due to the stay-at-home restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic preventing social gatherings. No family get together meant no traditional feast of …
Jubako Trays |
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1st Osechi Ryori - Tempura-Korokke-SekihanSubmitted by: Kenneth A. Hamada Photo 3 of 3: Tempura-Korokke-Sekihan I was forced to attempt making my first Osechi Ryori at the age of 70 years old due to the stay-at-home restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic preventing social gatherings. No family get together meant no traditional feast of …
Tempura-Korokke-Sekihan |
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chirashiSubmitted by: Steph Lai Photo 1 of 2: Chirashi New Year’s Day food step 80. Chirashi (enlisted kids to help fan). We had a scaled down osechi which I documented on Instagram. I made chirashi and butter mochi (also tempura shrimp and simmered shrimp—not pictured). |
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butter mochiSubmitted by: Steph Lai Photo 2 of 2: Butter Mochi Butter mochi in a mini muffin pan turns out well. We had a scaled down osechi which I documented on Instagram. I made chirashi and butter mochi (also tempura shrimp and simmered shrimp—not pictured).
butter mochi |
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New Year's Day YokanSubmitted by: June Magsaysay (California, USA) One year, I decided to use our sakura cookie cutters on our New Year's yokan...it has grown to a full on plate of designs. There is enough for a second plate for nanoka, and we snack on the tons of scrap pieces throughout …
New Year's Day Yokan |
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Mochi tsuki - 1956Submitted by: Michael Brown Preparing for New Year’s celebration, pounding mochi. Kunizo Higashida family, Panorama City, California, December 1956. A favorite photo that has been passed on to grandkids and great grandkids of this wonderful tradition. Photo courtesy of the Higashida family.
Mochi tsuki - 1956 |
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New Year’s Day donabeSubmitted by: Dawn Mayeda Our family usually hosts Japanese-style New Year’s Day open house for all of our friends, neighbors, and family. This year, our son made soup for our family of four in the new donabe that we gave him for Christmas. We were safe, lucky, and satisfied …
New Year’s Day donabe |
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Shinnen Akemashite OmedetouSubmitted by: Mary Sunada (California, USA) Photo 1 of 2: Oshogatsu Foods Being born in Japan, we always celebrated New Years Day. This Japanese tradition has been passed down from my grandparents, to my parents and now to me. Since my parents are no longer living, …
Shinnen Akemashite Omedetou |
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Birthday cakeSubmitted by: Mary Sunada (California, USA) Photo 2 of 2: Birthday Cake Being born in Japan, we always celebrated New Years Day. This Japanese tradition has been passed down from my grandparents, to my parents and now to me. Since my parents are no longer living, …
Birthday cake |
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1957 Nishio Mochi TsukiSubmitted by: John Nishio (California, USA) Photo 1 of 4: 1957 Nishio Mochi Tsuki The photo was taken by Shig Nishio in 1957, at our Nishio Family Mochi Tsuki, held on the Nishio Farm in Whittier, CA. The old man is Zenjiro Nishio, who emigrated to this country in 1898 …
1957 Nishio Mochi Tsuki |
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Oba-chan’s 13-ingredient MakizushiSubmitted by: John Nishio (California, USA)
Photo 2 of 4: Oba-chan’s 13-ingredient Makizushi My Grandmother Takei was famous in the Japanese American community for her cooking. Her chicken teriyaki and nishime were always the best at the many Ken, and church picnics she attended. Her 13-ingredient …
Oba-chan’s 13-ingredient Makizushi |
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My 99-year-old father making mochiSubmitted by: John Nishio (California, USA)
Photo 3 of 4: My 99-year-old father making mochi Our annual Nishio Mochi Tsuki has been going on in an unbroken string, since 1912, through two pandemics, and the WWII concentration camps. My Grandfather considered the family mochi tsuki to …
My 99-year-old father making mochi |
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Daifuku Mochi made by my 99-year-old fatherSubmitted by: John Nishio (California, USA) Photo 4 of 4: Daifuku Mochi made by my 99-year-old father At 99, my Dad is still fairly healthy and can make mochi as well as he ever did. All his life keeping the family and clan together has been his mission, …
Daifuku Mochi made by my 99-year-old father |
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broke dah mouth MochiSubmitted by: Teresa Matsushima Photo 1 of 2: broke dah mouth Mochi After making a batch of komochi, my daughter suggested this idea. We wrapped a slice of bacon around one piece of Mochi and pan fried it on medium heat until the bacon was browned and crisp and the …
broke dah mouth Mochi |
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bacon a la goboSubmitted by: Teresa Matsushima Photo 2 of 2: bacon a la gobo My 92 yr old nisei, Auntie Rulie, always was the best cook in our Kaneko family. She was busy out out about in Honolulu, so I had to call her daughter for the recipe. No measurements. Take some …
bacon a la gobo |
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天からの贈り物投稿者： ラウラ・ハセガワ 写真 1/2: お雑煮 新しい町での生活、外出自粛のため「お正月のお餅は無理かなぁ」と、諦めていたところ、知り合いのご夫婦が訪れ、ご主人の85歳のお父さんが搗いたお餅を届けてくれました。有難く頂いたお餅で作ったお雑煮と納豆餅は特別でした！
天からの贈り物 - お雑煮 |
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天からの贈り物投稿者： ラウラ・ハセガワ 写真 2/2: お雑煮 新しい町での生活、外出自粛のため「お正月のお餅は無理かなぁ」と、諦めていたところ、知り合いのご夫婦が訪れ、ご主人の85歳のお父さんが搗いたお餅を届けてくれました。有難く頂いたお餅で作ったお雑煮と納豆餅は特別でした！
天からの贈り物 - 納豆餅 |
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Renkon for New Year’s Day 2020Submitted by: Julia Murakami (Whittier, California, USA) Renkon (lotus root) has been part of our family’s New Year’s buffet for as long as I can remember. It’s not something that I chose to eat. But it’s one of the dishes that my late father very much enjoyed so Mom …
Renkon for New Year’s Day 2020 |
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Japanese American Oshogatsu 2021Submitted by: Derek Yee Photo 1 of 4: Japanese American Oshogatsu 2021 I looked forward to going to my Nisei grandparents’ home every year for New Year’s Day. Grandma always had a table full of food. After they passed we joined a larger extended family gathering. Due to …
Japanese American Oshogatsu 2021 |
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OsechiSubmitted by: Derek Yee Photo 2 of 4: Japanese American Oshogatsu 2021 I looked forward to going to my Nisei grandparents’ home every year for New Year’s Day. Grandma always had a table full of food. After they passed we joined a larger extended family gathering. Due to … |
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NishimeSubmitted by: Derek Yee Photo 3 of 4: Japanese American Oshogatsu 2021 I looked forward to going to my Nisei grandparents’ home every year for New Year’s Day. Grandma always had a table full of food. After they passed we joined a larger extended family gathering. Due to … |
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OsechiSubmitted by: Derek Yee Photo 4 of 4: Japanese American Oshogatsu 2021 I looked forward to going to my Nisei grandparents’ home every year for New Year’s Day. Grandma always had a table full of food. After they passed we joined a larger extended family gathering. Due to … |
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OzoniSubmitted by: Aska Singh We are a mixed race family. I am second generation Japanese-American and my husband is second generation Indian-American. This year we celebrated our first Japanese New Year’s together as a married couple. |
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Today’s NY meal: Toshikoshi sobaSubmitted by: Derrick Hills Our Chinese side of the family celebrates Lunar New Year, but our Japanese side celebrates Oshogatsu. My mom used to cook a lot of traditional Japanese foods with her mother and grandmother. Now we don’t cook a big feast every year like our Baachans did. But …
Today’s NY meal: Toshikoshi soba |
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Today’s NY meal: Toshikoshi sobaSubmitted by: Derrick Hills Soba noodles (for longevity); Kamaboko (for the rising sun / start of new day); Gobo tempura (for family roots and strong, healthy relationships); Nori (for the ocean and beginning of life on Earth).
Today’s NY meal: Toshikoshi soba |
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Favorite Dish OzoniSubmitted by: Kanako Asai Richard We always cook ozoni on the morning of New Year’s Day. Some of our favorite ingredients to add are miso, tofu, onion, spinach, wakame, egg, naruto, udon, and of course mochi. This is my 6 year old daughter Mei. She dreams of visiting Japan one …
Favorite Dish Ozoni |
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New Year's Day OzōniSubmitted by: Desiree Caro My great-grandmother, my Bachan, always celebrated Oshogatsu and prepared beautiful meals to share with family. This year, my brother made the mochi and I made the ozōni while we attended university from home. As kids learning to cook, our Bachan forgave any and all of …
New Year's Day Ozōni |
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NengajoSubmitted by: Yoko Nishimura This year, I received a beautiful nengajo from my former co-worker and friend, Patricia Wakida. It made me feel a little bit nostalgic. When I was a kid, my Dad carved the animal of the year with a woodblock print for nengajo . Interestingly, … |
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Oshogatsu PotluckSubmitted by: Yoko Nishimura This is a photo from a couple of years ago. My Japanese friends organized a New Year potluck for our kids. Many of Japanese moms who live outside Japan want our kids to experience "Japanese" oshogatsu. Food is, of course, the main aspect of …
Oshogatsu Potluck |
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1st Time Ozoni MakingSubmitted by: Michelle Yoshida Lopez Due to COVID-19 we were unable to gather with friends and family this year. I was forced to learn how to make many Japanese dishes and it was fun!
1st Time Ozoni Making |
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Happy New Year. 2021 Year of the OxSubmitted by: Michael Abe 明けましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願い致します。 Michael Abe has been producing and sending out Nenga jo 年賀状 (Japanese New Year’s cards) to friends and family since 1999 using sumi-e 墨絵 (Japanese brush painting) and the animals of the Eto 干支 (Chinese zodiac) often hiding the year into the painting. This year …
Happy New Year. 2021 Year of the Ox |
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Toshi-koshi sobaSubmitted by: Aya Tasaki Toshi-koshi soba snuggles with homemade kitsune and handcut kamaboko.
Toshi-koshi soba snuggles with kitsune and kamaboko |
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Matsumae Zoni from HokkaidoSubmitted by: Lucy Seligman This is my daughter’s favorite zoni. She took the photo. It is also in my cookbook on Osechi. My new cookbook The Wonderful World of Osechi: Japanese New Year’s Recipes is now available on amazon.com .
Matsumae Zoni from Hokkaido |
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Japanese American Tradition: MochitsukiSubmitted by: Ellyn Iwata My 23 year old son, Jason Yamashita, made a video of our family’s Mochitsuki from last year’s footage. Due to COVID restrictions, we were not able to have our family mochitsuki last year, which we've held annually since ~1940. Jason is a fourth generation Japanese American …
Japanese American Tradition: Mochitsuki |
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2021 OzoniSubmitted by: Ariel Okamoto As it is for many families, ozoni is one of the highlights of our usual extended family get-together. Our soup has evolved through the years, sometimes including additional ingredients and leftover pieces from other oshogatsu dishes. This year, with all of our households separated …
2021 Ozoni |
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Family FavoritesSubmitted by: Ariel Okamoto In non-pandemic times, our extended family gathers each New Year’s Day for an extravagant potluck, white elephant gift exchange, and day-long hang-out. These tables display a representative smorgasbord from 2020 — you’ll see the traditional vegetables alongside tempura, sashimi, katsu and ginger fried chicken, somen …
Family Favorites |
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Oshogatsu left overs make the best bentosSubmitted by: Julia Murakami New Year’s Day favorite foods get packed into containers making January 2nd the day with the best bentos of the year. They’re often the envy of one’s co-workers. If you work with other Nikkei, it’s fun to compare bentos.
Oshogatsu left overs make the best bentos |
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Happy First Family Meal of the YearSubmitted by Ayumi Amama Living in the US, Osechi is quite hard for me to prepare and for our kids to enjoy. So we simplify our Oshogatsu’s first family meal to Ozohni, all contents prepared from scratch. We enjoy preparing each element that goes in it thoughtfully, and assembling each …
Happy First Family Meal of the Year |
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The Iwataki Oshogatsu - our favorite family traditionSubmitted by Miya Iwataki Photo 1 of 2: Delicious osechi dishes This is our traditional Iwataki family Oshogatsu from 2020. Oshogatsu is the favorite time of the year for the Iwataki family. It is a special day for our family to share love, celebrate the New Year, and honor past …
The Iwataki Oshogatsu - our favorite family tradition |
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The Iwataki Oshogatsu - our favorite family traditionSubmitted by Miya Iwataki Photo 2 of 2: Iwataki Family (L-R Kathy, Ian, Ana, Benny, Joel, Lourdes, Dave, Miya, Dale, Leslie) This is our traditional Iwataki family Oshogatsu from 2020. Oshogatsu is the favorite time of the year for the Iwataki family. It is a special day for our family …
The Iwataki Oshogatsu - our favorite family tradition |
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NimonoSubmitted by: Taylor Setsumi Ingman My grandma has always made nimono vegetables for Oshougatsu—last year, I asked her to show me how to make them. She showed me how she folds the konnyaku , and how she always uses both the positive and negative space of the flower-shaped carrot … |
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OkasaneSubmitted by: Vicky Murakami-Tsuda We set up an okasane / kagami mochi at my parent’s house. Russ got it through the JACCC, although we forgot the fern and leaf at home, so it’s missing the greenery. The stand is my parent’s. |
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Take-out osechiSubmitted by Jane Shohara Matsumoto Photo 1 of 2: Take-out osechi Here is my attempt to create a take out osechi. It has what typically gets plated into a jyu-bako - or the square stacked traditional lacquered serving boxes that are arranged with colors and foods symbolizing Oshogatsu. |
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OzoniSubmitted by Jane Shohara Matsumoto Photo 2 of 2: Ozoni Our annual first morning Kampai as we welcomed the new year with ozoni. We make it Kanto-style with the clear broth, even though our mother is from Kansai. They make ozoni with a miso broth. We prefer the clear, crisp taste of …
Ozoni |
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Annual Osechi RyoriSubmitted by Qris Yamashita Photo 1 of 3: Annual Osechi Ryori I grew up with my Obaachan preparing Osechi Ryori, then my mother. I started participating in the food prep slowly and eventually followed the "Osechi Path" my mother set. Our 2 cousins and my brother and his wife helped …
Annual Osechi Ryori |
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Family Members - Osechi Ryori Art ProjectSubmitted by Qris Yamashita Photo 1 of 2: Family Members Family members who contributed to the "Osechi Ryori Art Project"
Family Members - Osechi Ryori Art Project |
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2021 "Osechi-ben To Go"Submitted by Qris Yamashia Photo 3 of 3: Osechi-ben to go Many things were 'taken' from us in 2020 because of the pandemic and other forces...Obon, Mochitsuki, gatherings with friends and family, etc...but it wasn't going to take Oshogatsu away from us! Normally, family and friends come to our house. …
2021 "Osechi-ben To Go" |
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