福岡のFMラジオ局 LOVE FM。周波数76.1MHz。九州北部広範囲をカバーする10ヶ国語の多言語放送局。
2024.12.30[Mon] 09:00
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This is our last broadcast for 2024. What kind of year was it for you?
For me, it was a busy year, but good. We want to the UK to visit family and family and friends from the US and UK came to visit us here as well. We took my family around Fukuoka and other parts of Kyushu. My sister's friend, who came with her and my mom, really loved Fukuoka. I didn't get to show him all of the charms of the city, it was still pretty hot when they visited, but he loved the ramen here and a lot of the other food as well, of course. He also liked that although the city was compact, it had a very cosmopolitan feeling but was also convenient for everything. All of us who live here know how great it is!
I also started an upper level patissier course, I may have mentioned doing a course a couple of years ago. A more advanced course opened up this year, so I decided to join it. It's definitely harder than the class before! We've made some pretty amazing confections that I never thought I'd be able to make. It continues through until March, so there's still a lot to learn in the new year!
Speaking of which, ss we approach the New Year, let me introduce some of the meaningful tradition of Osechi Ryori, the Japanese New Year feast.
【Osechi Ryori: Traditional Japanese New Year Cuisine】
What do you usually eat to celebrate the new year?
In Japan, there are several foods believed to bring good luck when eaten during the New Year. Among these, Osechi Ryori is the quintessential Japanese New Year dish.
The origin of Osechi dates back to offerings made to the gods to express gratitude for abundant harvests at seasonal changes. In modern times, it has become a meal to celebrate the New Year with family and is also often served to guests.
Osechi Ryori is packed in jubako, tiered lacquer boxes. This tradition has multiple reasons. One is the symbolism of stacking the boxes, which represents "piling up happiness." Additionally, packing the food in jubako saves space and makes it easier to serve to guests. The custom of preparing Osechi and other New Year dishes at the end of the year allows families to avoid cooking during the first three days of the New Year. During this time, people welcome the gods, pray for a bountiful harvest, and the safety of their families. To honor this, cooking or using fire is avoided. Preparing Osechi in advance also is said to reduce the number of times the cook has to be in the kitchen so that he or she can rest. Osechi ryori is designed to taste good even when cold and lasts a long time.
Each dish in Osechi Ryori carries a symbolic meaning or wish for good fortune. The ingredients and dishes vary by region, but a complete Osechi usually includes around 20–30 different items, allowing a variety of flavors to be enjoyed. Osechi is organized into five categories:
"Three celebratory dishes" that symbolize prosperity, longevity, and a bountiful harvest.
Appetizers that pair well with sake.
Grilled seafood dishes.
Simmered dishes.
Vinegared dishes.
The ingredients in the dishes incorporate wishes for bountiful harvests, health, longevity, and family prosperity.
The arrangement of dishes within the jubako is also predetermined. Traditionally, five-tiered jubako are used. The contents vary by region, but typically:
The first tier contains the "three celebratory dishes" and appetizers that pair well with sake.
The second tier holds grilled dishes.
The third and fourth tiers are filled with simmered dishes and vinegared dishes.
The fifth tier is left empty, symbolizing a space to invite good fortune.
In recent years, three-tiered boxes have become common, with the first tier for celebratory dishes, the second for grilled and vinegared dishes, and the third for simmered dishes.
The "three celebratory dishes for the New Year" typically include Kuro-mame: Sweetly simmered black soybeans, Kazunoko: Salted herring roe, Tazukuri: Dried baby sardines roasted and coated in a sweet soy sauce glaze and Tataki gobō: Smashed burdock root.
The "sake-pairing dishes" include Kurikinton: Sweet chestnut paste, Kōhaku kamaboko: Red and white fish cake, Datemaki: A sweet rolled omelet made with eggs and fish paste and Kombumaki: Herring wrapped in kelp and tied with kanpyo, simmered in a sweet soy sauce.
Additionally, grilled seafood such as yellowtail, sea bream, and spiny lobster; vinegared dishes such as kōhaku namasu (pickled carrot and daikon radish); and simmered dishes such as nimono (featuring lotus root, taro, daikon, carrot, and konnyaku) are included.
Each dish in osechi ryori is carefully made, filled with meaning and prepared with care and time. The tradition of enjoying osechi ryori, with its various wishes for good luck, is still deeply rooted in the heart of Japanese culture.
While the customs of osechi vary by region, modern osechi ryori has become increasingly diverse. Celebrate the New Year with the Osechi Ryori that suits your family, and let it bring you health and happiness for the year ahead.
Thank you very much for listening to Life in Fukuoka this year. I hope that the tips I share on Life in Fukuoka will also be useful for you next year. May 2025 bring you an abundance of joy. Have a wonderful New Year!
誕生日:11月11日
出身地:USA Detroit, MI
興味のある事:I'm studying patisserie and languages
好きな音楽:Rock、Classical、Swing、Pop
趣味・特技:ハイキング、写真、キャンプ、旅行
SNSアカウント:Instagram@indybinks