I am truly grateful for the many encounters I had last year.
When people meet face-to-face, things become clearer.
It was a year that made me realize that once again.
This year, I hope to continue cherishing each and every encounter.
On New Year's Day morning, the air was refreshingly clear, and even the time spent in the kitchen felt more special than usual. Before the city fully woke up, I boiled water, arranged the tableware, and slowly welcomed the beginning of the new year.
My First Handmade Osechi
Due to my work, I had previously ordered various kinds of Osechi every year.
But this year, using the stacked boxes prepared for me by Tsujicho Lacquerware, I decided to make Osechi by hand for the first time in my life.
The time spent preparing Osechi at the end of the year felt like a culmination of the year, naturally straightening my posture.
Osechi is a dish prepared to welcome the New Year's deity and pray for health and happiness in the new year. However, it was also a form of everyday wisdom to prepare long-lasting dishes in advance so that one could spend the first three days of the New Year at leisure.
It suddenly dawned on me that lacquerware boxes, which are said to have antibacterial properties, were used to preserve food.
As a child, I simply thought of Osechi as something that naturally appeared during New Year's, but as an adult, learning its background and actually making it myself has made me feel like I can approach Osechi with more care than before.
Our Zoni
Another indispensable dish for New Year's is Zoni.
The taste and ingredients of Zoni vary greatly by region and household.
Some are clear broth, some are miso.
Some have round mochi, some have square mochi.
When I have the opportunity to talk to people from different regions during the New Year, I can't help but ask, "What kind of Zoni do you eat?"
Among the people I've met, some have created their own unique Zoni by combining regional characteristics. It's fascinating how such casual conversations offer glimpses into where people grew up and the scenes of their family kitchens.
This year, too, from daily life
As the new year begins, the time spent gathered around a table set with tableware created in collaboration with various artisans feels even more special.
It's also a great joy to realize that such items gradually increase each year, making life feel more fulfilling.
This year, too, I want to live each day richly, encountering things that I genuinely find wonderful, one by one.
And, I hope to create opportunities to meet in person, not just online, while envisioning many encounters.
May this year be peaceful and fruitful for all of you.
Thank you for your continued support this year.
