By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
NepaliPage | Nepalese Community Affairs in AustraliaNepaliPage | Nepalese Community Affairs in Australia
  • Home
  • Who is Who
  • News
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Students
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Nepali NAATI CCL
Font ResizerAa
NepaliPage | Nepalese Community Affairs in AustraliaNepaliPage | Nepalese Community Affairs in Australia
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Who is Who
  • News
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Students
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Nepali NAATI CCL
Japan

Japanese foods for Special Occasions

Pabitra Dhakal
Last updated: July 15, 2022 6:17 am
Pabitra Dhakal
Share
10 Min Read
SHARE

Japanese foods has their speciality and identity all around the world. Some of the Japanese foods have their significance with the occasions such as New Year celebration. Here we know more on Japanese taste on the time.

 

Contents
Japanese Special Occasion Dishes: How Food and Events Interact together in the country!Japanese foods and Major Events that can be celebrated by the Nepalese in JapanOshōgatsu (January 1st — 3rd, The New Year Day)Jiujitsu (The Festival of Herbs, celebrated on January 7)Setsubun (February 2, the seasonal division)Momo-no-Sekku (March 3, Girls Day)Kodomo-no-Hi (May 5, Children’s day)Doyō-no-Ushi-no-Hi (July/August, the OX day)Chūshū-no-Meigetsu (September, the Autumn Moon Festival)Ōmisoka (December 31, the New Year Eve celebration)

Travellers from around the world visit Japan for the sake of experiencing authentic Japanese cuisine. Authentic Japanese food tastes quite different from its Japanese-inspired counterparts in many countries, despite the widespread popularity worldwide.

 Apart from this, foreign fast-food chains are difficult to taste in Japan. Several popular restaurants, such as McDonald’s and Starbucks, offer Japanized menu options as far as presentation, taste, and dining experience are concerned.

The traditional cuisines of Japan, such as sushi, ramen, sukiyaki, tempura, and Japanese sweets, are a must-try during your visit. Many drinks are available in Japan, including flavoured soft drinks, tea, canned coffee, soy drinks, draft beer, sake, and whiskey.

The consumption of unique dishes marks seasonal events and holidays. In Japan, people eat these words to wish for their families’ happiness and health, using ingredients in season. Many appealing dishes are eaten at special events in Japan that are encouraged to be tried, even if you live abroad or stay in Japan. 

 

Japanese Special Occasion Dishes: How Food and Events Interact together in the country!

There are numerous types of special events held in Japan throughout the year. For example, the people who celebrate Momo no Sekku (Girls’ Day) and Tango no Sekku (Boys’ Day) wish their children health. In addition, people want to for health and happiness on Setsubun (the last day of Winter) and for a bumper harvest of crops on Jugoya (a festival where people enjoy watching the autumn moon).

 Traditionally, unique dishes are eaten that incorporate in-season ingredients and use ingredients that connect to the event at hand. Therefore, Japan’s food culture is enriched by the unique dishes eaten through the four seasons.

  A long time ago, food was scarce, so eating feasts and gaining nutrition were important. A long time ago, special days, annual events, and ceremonial occasions were called Hare, and every day was called Ke.

 As a result, food, clothing, and furniture have always been different for regular and memorable times. There was a distinction created from the everyday life of people on Hare days by taking a break, eating foods, and celebrating the event. People made a variation in lifestyle and emotions in this way.

 

Japanese foods and Major Events that can be celebrated by the Nepalese in Japan

With its many annual events and festivals, and its many special foods, Japan offers several festivals and celebrations each year. We examine the significance of some of Japan’s most prominent seasonal foods in this article.

Read Also: An ultimate guide for study in Japan from Nepal, Costs, Scholarships, Job and Income

Japanese foods for Special Occasions - NepaliPage
Several popular restaurants, such as McDonald’s and Starbucks, offer Japanized menu options as far as presentation, taste, and dining experience are concerned.

Oshōgatsu (January 1st — 3rd, The New Year Day)

In Japan, during the New Year holiday of Oshogatsu (the New Year holiday), banquets are held with traditional foods called osechiry*.

 Osechi is known for its bright colour variety. It is beautifully packaged in lacquered boxes known as jūbako. During the holiday season, when most shops are closed, and people are not supposed to cook, the foods in osechi are chosen to last. 

Some foods have special meanings, such as health or prosperity. A typical sechi meal includes ozoni, a soup made of rice cakes and vegetables that varies significantly by region. 

Alternatively, you can drink otoso, a particular sake spiced with medicinal herbs, bringing good health for the upcoming year.

 

Jiujitsu (The Festival of Herbs, celebrated on January 7)

A Japanese tradition requires the consumption of rice porridge with seven herbs on January 7 (known as Nanakusa-gayu in Japanese). It’s called Nanakusa no Sekku on that day. 

The term sekku refers to when people hold a traditional annual event on an important day in their season. Rice is cooked with seven types of young herbs called Nanakusa herbs to make Nanakusa-gayu porridge with a simple taste.

Following Osechi Ryori and other feasts in a row during the Shogatsu period, this porridge provides your stomach with a rest. Vitamin C deficiency is expected in the Winter, supplied by this dish. Nanakusa-gayu is eaten to celebrate this day, and people gain energy from nature and wish for perfect health in the upcoming year.

Setsubun (February 2, the seasonal division)

As part of Setsubun, consumers scatter lucky beans (“fukumame”) throughout their homes to commemorate the end of Winter. People wearing devil masks will throw roast soybeans at people shouting “Oni wa soto!” as they throw roasted soybeans. Fuku wa uchi!” is dedicated to bringing personal good luck.

Therefore, people also eat one bean for each year of their life. It is also traditionally eaten with a unique rolled sushi known as Eho-maki.

Generally, an Eho-maki roll consists of seven ingredients (the ingredients do not matter, the lucky number matters). It should be consumed entirely silently while facing in the appropriate direction. Based on traditional astrology, the unexpected changes annually, but in 2021 it will be east-southeast.

Founded in western Kansai, the Eho-Maki tradition is now widespread in Japan and available in supermarkets and convenience stores.

Momo-no-Sekku (March 3, Girls Day)

When the festival is held, peach trees bloom, which marks the spring season in Nepal. People wish for healthy growth for girls during this event. On this day, people eat colourful dishes like Chirashi-zushi–white rice mixed with vinegar and various ingredients–or soup with clams, representing the close relationship between a husband and wife. Hina-arare (colourful rice pellets coated in sugar) are placed next to Hina dolls to wish their children happy and healthy development.

Kodomo-no-Hi (May 5, Children’s day)

Kodomo-no-Hi (Children’s Day) celebrates the love for children and the desire to have strong and healthy children. Children eat kashiwa mochi, rice cakes stuffed with sweet bean paste and wrapped in oak leaves to represent strength. Koinobori carp streamers are flown on this day. This day is also celebrated by eating sweet chimaki dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves made of glutinous rice. 

Doyō-no-Ushi-no-Hi (July/August, the OX day)

Traditionally, the Day of the Ox occurs on a different day every summer, but it falls on the hottest day of the year. During this day, you’re supposed to eat unagi (eel) as a way of surviving the midsummer heat.

Various preparation methods are used for these eels in both Japan’s east and west. As a pot roast, eels are prepared by removing the head in East Japan.

With this preparation method, the fat is removed from the meat, and the skin is soft. Some people in the west of Japan leave the head on while roasting the meat. A lump of smooth, supple meat is obtained from this method, while a crunchy, scaly skin is obtained.

Read Also: Holidays and long weekends in Japan for 2022, Nepalese in Japan need to know

Japanese foods for Special Occasions - NepaliPage
The traditional cuisines of Japan, such as sushi, ramen, sukiyaki, tempura, and Japanese sweets, are must-try.

Chūshū-no-Meigetsu (September, the Autumn Moon Festival)

Susuki (pampass grass) is traditionally used to decorate windows and balconies during moon-viewing parties. These sweet round rice dumplings are called tsukimi dango (“moon-viewing dumplings”) and are eaten at moon-viewing parties. The harvest moon is called Chsh-no-Meigetsu.

Ōmisoka (December 31, the New Year Eve celebration)

In Japan, toshikoshi soba (“year-crossing noodles”) is served on misoka, New Year’s eve. Since long noodles are soft and easy to chew, they represent long life and break up any bad luck from the previous year.

In Japan, special occasions are marked by dishes made from ingredients in season, and the dishes represent many different wishes.

If you are new bee in Japan and you have no idea about how to make any of these in any of the event, why not coordinate with your local Japanese friend or visit restaurants to at-least get the taste of the Japanese meal! Share us your valuable feedbacks on the comment section below! 

TAGGED:Featuredhow many nepalese in JapanJapan festivalsJapanese foodJapanese foods for Special OccasionsNepalese in Japan
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article Best Place To Buy Packaging Boxes in Australia - NepaliPage Best Place To Buy Packaging Boxes in Australia 
Next Article Tasmanian Migration Update darling for graduates, visa seekers - NepaliPage Tasmania Migration Update darling for graduates, visa seekers
Leave a comment

Migration News

2025 NSW Skilled Migration Seminars - NepaliPage
Want Australian PR? Join These NSW Migration Seminars
Migration
Temporary Graduate 485 visa - NepaliPage
Australia Closes Student Visa Pathway for Temporary Graduate Visa Holders
Migration
Migration boost is bad news for Australia’s environment – we mustn’t ignore that - NepaliPage
Australia’s skilled migration policy changed how and where migrants settle
Australia Migration News
How to improve the migration system for the good of temporary migrants – and Australia - NepaliPage
Government to toughen scrutiny of international students as it slashes net migration over two years
Migration News
- Advertisement -

You Might Also Like

Sydney Arieal View
Lifestyle

Top 10 Places to Visit in Australia in 2025

January 26, 2025
Two Nepalese lost life in Sydney water - NepaliPage
AustraliaNews

Two Nepalese lost life in Sydney water

June 9, 2024
CorporateJobs

10 Top In-Demand Jobs in Australia

April 15, 2025
Australia Budget 2025
Opinion

Budget 2024-2025: Shifting Migration Landscape and Its Implications for Nepalese Visa Seekers

June 9, 2024

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians & First Peoples of Australia (all states & territories) past, present and emerging, and honour their continued connection to the history, country, and culture.

Follow Us on Socials

Twitter Update

Tweets by NepaliPage

About Us

NepaliPage.com (नेपालीपेज डटकम) is an Australian Nepalese Community Media platform connects large number of Nepalese Australians through common interest news, views and reviews. As an Australian Community Media NepaliPage aggregates News, Australian Nepali Community Affairs from all around Australia in both Nepali and English language. Read More...

Follow Us on Facebook

Copyright © All Rights Reserved

Affiliate Disclosure | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Community Journalism Policy |
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?