New Year Foods for Japan “Osechi-ryori” Do you know “Osechi-ryori”? Osechi-ryori is specially prepared New Year’s food in Japan. Many kinds dishes are in lacquer boxes, each dish and ingredient have meanings, such as good health, good harvest, happiness, prosperity, long life, and so on. Osechi-ryori is usually cooked homemade by women, but recently many women buy ready-made Osechi-ryori at stores instead of cooking them at home. It’s even possible to order Osechi-ryori packed in boxes at department stores, grocery stores, or convenience stores in Japan.