Osechi and Grandma

A Happy New Year 2009!!

The wind was blowing hard on New Year’s day, so please excuse our wild hair. (me & mom)

On 1. January, we woke late but conducted a powerful but sleepy run for 4.7 km along Sumida River.

At noon, we headed to auntie Mieko’s apartment in Ichigaya to celebrate New Year with her and grandma. We first stopped by Sumiyoshi Shrine in the neighborhood to burn the amulets we bought last year. One must not hang on to an amulet too long and return it with a gratitude, mom says. I took a photo of her in front of her apartment complex, and she was happy.

At auntie Mieko’s awaited a luxurious New Year’s feast Osechi (お節料理）for us. Auntie Mieko ordered a huge amount of Japanese and Chinese style New Year’s food from renown restaurants, and she also cooked a clear soup called Osuimono (お吸い物). When we unwrapped Osechi boxes, the contents were so colorful and rich that we all gasped in surprise. Osechi is usually cooked relatively sweet for preservation, so the housewives don’t need to cook during 3 days of New Year’s celebration. It also means that the kitchen should not be disturbed when the god of new year arrives. Every food in Osechi has a significant meaning. For example, black beans (黒豆) mean a talisman against evil, so by eating it you wish for the good work (まめに働く) and health (まめに暮らす) without misfortune. Red and white food symbolizes good luck, and yellow food resembles gold thus is referred to wealth and prosperity. Osechi boxes are usually piled in 3 or 5 layers. That means “layering luck”. As you can see, the Japanese are as superstitious as the Westerners with Number 13, black cat, etc.

After long and happy meal, I brought grandma by the window and read loud an article from the Nikkei, a Japanese version of The Financial Times. I chose an article about iPhone and how it can improve and save costs for some business in Japan. Since the Nikkei is for businessmen, the Kanjis used are relatively difficult in comparison to the Asahi, a newspaper for ordinary citizens. I could feel that my parents and auntie Mieko were attentively listening to me in the back. When I stumbled on a Kanji, a word or two translations were given to me as a help. When I finished the article, grandma was deep asleep on her wheelchair in the warm afternoon sun.

That day, grandma gave us many moments of happiness with her wonderful smiles. She made us feel this year would be a great year for us.