We had great fun playing different games. Everyone sitting around warm Kotatsu, legs stuck under the table. Uno, several other card games, an ancient board game found from the dust of warehouse, all these we played. In the photo above is Shougi (将棋), a board game with Chinese origins. I had never played it before. We used the board for several kinds of games, one which was like chess but more complicated.
During the five days we probably ate more than in two weeks normally. To say the least, the food was absolutely gorgeous and it came with great variation! This hot-pot style dish is Oden (おでん). All the tasty things swimming in the soup it make it an exciting food to eat. Most fascinating of those things are the rice cake filled pouches.
My very favorite, the spectacular Sukiyaki (すき焼き). The idea I like about Sukiyaki is that everyone adds more vegetables and meat in the sake, soy sauce and sugar mixed soup meanwhile eating it, making every eater around the table a chef.
This is Toshi-koshi-soba, a year-crossing soba. It is eaten in the night right at the turn of the year. The lengthy soba-noodles, which can't really be seen in from this photo symbolize long life and good health for the coming year.
Most of the food was summoned by Yumiko's mother's skilfull hands but this piece is from Harbs, the dangerously delicious cake shop found in central Nagoya.
Look at this set trays full of colorful goodies! My eyes dropped when I saw these on the breakfast table on the first morning of new year. Yes, we enjoyed that for breakfast! And believe me, we weren't hungry for long time after. The food is called Osechi-riyouri (御節料理), it's a traditional set of dishes, prepared by mother, and is eaten for three consecutive days after new year. It is supposed to give a break for the mother from the house hold chores, well cooking at least. I wonder if it actually gives any easy, since it seems very time-taking to prepare. Nevertheless, it was for sure yam-yam!
Meeting relatives is an important part of the new year. Yumiko's Uncle and Aunt hosted us for a long afternoon, by making Okonomi-yaki, better than in a restaurant, and serving lot's of other treats, including a war cup of green-tea and wagashi. It was very fun to meet them and talk about things. For my side, it was enlightening to realize that I could actually catch what they were saying, tough my Japanese is still far below what a two years can understand of say.
May this year be utterly fantastic for everyone out there!
