December 31st, 2024
This was one of the day I was most looking forward to: Spending time with my Japanese Family, and introducing my kids to them.
We got there mostly without incident, although there was some running involved to catch the first train. We left a little bit late, so we arrived a little bit late – not really a problem.
Norie came and met us at the station. It was so great to see her again only a few days after we saw her in Kyoto. We walked to the shrine, and Mr. Mori came and met us. The first hug is always the best!! Once we arrived, we got to meet Mitsuka’s two daughters Tomoka and Hiroka (ages 20 and 23). They are both lovely young ladies.
The family had prepared a traditional New Years feast of Toshikoshi Soba noodles and tempura and Oden.
An explanation of the tradition of eating Soba on New Year’s from the By Food website:
“The tradition of eating soba noodles on New Year’s Eve started as early as the 13th or 14th century in Japan. However, it was not until the Edo Period—when the common class developed customary religious and superstitious rituals—that the tradition of eating toshikoshi soba become established for the Japanese people.
With the hope of good fortune in each bowl, it’s easy to imagine the custom being adopted quickly from family to family, slurping in the symbolism of soba noodles:
- To enjoy a fulfilling, peaceful life with every slurp of the long noodles.
- To break free from the past.
- To gather strength and resilience like the tough buckwheat crop.
- To grow your fortune just as buckwheat flour was once used by goldsmiths to gather leftover gold dust.
Superstitious or not, eating toshikoshi soba on New Year’s Eve has become one of the most enduring traditions observed by the Japanese people.” The soba are served cold on a basket, and then you take a bit at a time, dip them in a small hot bowl of broth and slurp them up.”
We were so busy being in the moment, devouring the soba that I forgot to take a photo of them. Here is a photo from the internet so you have na idea of what I am talking about.
The tempura was really great, as always. I love the Moris’ tempura. The tempura choices were yam, lotus root, maitake mushrooms and chrysanthemum leaves. Delicious!!
Oden is basically an assortment of fishcakes, whole eggs, tofu, kelp, konjac cakes and daikon (Japanese radish) and sometimes other vegetables boiled in a delicious broth. It is served in a clay hot pot which retains its heat the whole time it is on the table.
We ate SO much, but Teva ate the most – we think he ate at least 9 bowls of soba noodles. The Moris got a kick out how much the kids ate.
After lunch, there were rousing games of Jenga and dominoes for the younger folks, while I was able to catch up with the Moris. They have such a warm, lovely energy, and being with them was good for my soul.
Hiromi-San’s health is much better now. She is slowly improving every day. Her smile and laugh were infectious as always. Yasuhide-San is as active as ever, still volunteering gardening and drumming and keeping himself very busy.
Basking in their warmth makes me happy. They are truly the embodiment of kindness and hospitality. The fact that they welcomed me back into their home with my large family was just amazing. I am so grateful to have them in my life.
It was with mixed feelings we headed back to Tokyo. I was so happy to see them, but am not sure when I will see them again. We will just have to make sure we keep in touch.