New take on traditional Japanese “osechi” is a sweet way to ring in the new year

Popular bakery Cozy Corner has created its own version of osechi, or traditional Japanese New Year’s food. What better way to start 2016 than with a box full of cute little cakes?

Japanese culture is full of tradition, and New Year’s celebrations are no exception. Many will gather around their TV sets to watch NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen music competitions, take their first shrine trip of the year to pray for good luck and health, and eat toshikoshi soba noodles or osechi ryori, which is served in stacked bento-like boxes and contains various foods each with special meanings, many intended to bring good things in the coming year.

Image: Wikipedia

This year from December 31, Ginza Cozy Corner, a well-known chain in Japan specializing in ornate cakes, will begin selling their osechi-inspired “First Sweets”, just in time for the new year.

You can choose from a set of nine or a set of 12 assorted cakes, which include a matcha roll cake and a festive kohaku red-and-white tart. The bite-sized treats come in a box that’s decorated with sweet little monkeys in honor of the coming Chinese zodiac year, and is divided like the tiered bento boxes used for osechi.

The nine-cake set will be sold for 2,100 yen (US$17.45) and the 12-cake set for 2,700 ($22.45) plus tax. Other limited-time sweets Cozy Corner is bringing out for the new year include the “Monkey’s Tail” chocolate mousse and banana cream cake, and a jumbo cream puff with a special omikuji fortune. If you’re in Japan, you can locate your nearest store via Cozy Corner’s website.

Source and images: Otakomu

Origin: New take on traditional Japanese “osechi” is a sweet way to ring in the new year
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