This was submitted by Derrick Hills for Discover Nikkei’s Nima-kai 2020-2021 Oshogatsu Traditions photo activity.

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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 thanks to ingredients from my auntie this year, my mom wants to make sure we continue the tradition of making and eating toshikoshi soba on New Year’s Day.

Photo credit: Derrick Hills / Instagram: derrickofthehills