1.
rice cake soup eaten at New Year
A traditional Japanese soup containing mochi (rice cakes) eaten on New Year's Day and during the first days of January, with regional variations in broth and ingredients.
A quintessential New Year's dish in Japan, eaten during oshogatsu (the first three days of January). The soup symbolizes good fortune for the coming year, and every family has its own recipe passed down through generations.
Cultural note
Styles differ by region:
- Kanto region: clear dashi broth with square mochi (grilled)
- Kansai region: white miso broth with round mochi (boiled)
- Other regions: red bean, soy sauce, or seafood-based broths
Asking someone about their family's ozoni recipe is a common conversation topic in early January. The dish is so regionally diverse that it often reveals where someone's family is originally from.