Miso–Steeped in Nutrition and Ceremony
On New Year’s Eve, the Japanese make ceremonial offerings to the Gods and cook “Ozoni,” a traditional soup to be eaten on New Year’s day. On the morning of the new year, the special miso soup is placed on an altar with prayers for health, prosperity, and happiness. Ozoni is made with mochi (rice cake) and vegetables and is seasoned with miso. It is considered an auspicious dish in Japan and is said to be blessed by gods. Ishihara, a salesperson working at the miso counter of Takashimaya, Osaka, Japan, told The Epoch Times, “In the morning of the New Year’s Day, every family will make the miso soup and put it on the altar, and wish to get God’s blessing.” Ingredients Steeped in Metaphor The mochi in Ozoni is stretchable and can be pulled long, thus representing longevity. The shape of the rice cake varies depending on geographical regions. In the Kansai region, round mochi is eaten to represent the family reunion, whereas in the Kanto region, square-shaped mochi is eaten. Legend has it, the Kanto people were known to be impatient, and making a round mochi was too time-consuming for them, so they made square-shaped rice cakes to save time. Ozoni is made with different shades of miso, and with recipes specific to various regions of Japan. In December, Ishihara told The Epoch Times that at the end of the year, a counter is set up to sell the “Kamiwaza white miso,” used only on New Year’s Day and is preferred in the Kansai region. “Although the price is a bit high, many people still buy it because it is a must-have for the New Year’s dinner table.” “Miso soup is made by boiling various vegetables such as radishes, carrots, and rice cake in a pot, and adding white miso at the end. Then cook for a short while on low heat. It will taste delicious.” Ishihara added, “There is also another easy way to make it by mixing red bean soup and white miso soup and adding a piece of fish sausage and a piece of green vegetable into the bowl. It looks good and also tastes delicious.” The Many Benefits of Miso A fermented food unique to Japan, miso provides many nutritional benefits. In July 2022, Miso Journal published an article titled, “Why is miso in the spotlight again?” that explained that miso is rich in protein, one of the essential nutrients in the human body and that protein deficiency can cause a decrease in immunity and muscle strength. Every 100 grams of miso contains 12.5 grams of protein that is composed of many amino acids. Made of soybeans, miso contains 20 different amino acids, including essential amino acids that cannot be produced by the human body itself. After fermentation, soybeans can be efficiently digested and absorbed into the body, resulting in a balance of amino acid levels. Miso is rich in dietary fiber that can improve gut status, increase gut motility, and is conducive to flushing sugar, fat, and sodium out of our bodies. It can effectively regulate the rise of blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Soybeans are rich in lecithin, which inhibits the absorption of cholesterol and can improve immunity and prevent arteriosclerosis, as well as enhance memory and cognitive ability. Soybeans also contain isoflavones, a kind of polyphenol, considered a strong antioxidant, that aids in the prevention of aging problems, such as dark spots, wrinkles, memory loss, and fatigue. The components of miso soup are conducive to regulating hormonal imbalance, restoring skin elasticity, and having healthy, shiny hair. Miso can be especially beneficial for women. Nota, a woman living in Osaka, Japan, told The Epoch Times, “Miso is good for improving our gut and is critically important to women. I have eaten miso since I was young. Every time I travel abroad, my intestines feel unwell and difficult to digest. I recover after drinking some miso soup when I return home. Moreover, miso soup is suitable for elders, men, women, and children, and the soup is irreplaceable in Japanese cuisine.” The benefits of eating miso have been well documented and continue to be explored. Wherever you may live, you can celebrate the New Year with a bowl of nourishing miso soup.
Udumbara
On New Year’s Eve, the Japanese make ceremonial offerings to the Gods and cook “Ozoni,” a traditional soup to be eaten on New Year’s day. On the morning of the new year, the special miso soup is placed on an altar with prayers for health, prosperity, and happiness.
Ozoni is made with mochi (rice cake) and vegetables and is seasoned with miso. It is considered an auspicious dish in Japan and is said to be blessed by gods.
Ishihara, a salesperson working at the miso counter of Takashimaya, Osaka, Japan, told The Epoch Times, “In the morning of the New Year’s Day, every family will make the miso soup and put it on the altar, and wish to get God’s blessing.”
Ingredients Steeped in Metaphor
The mochi in Ozoni is stretchable and can be pulled long, thus representing longevity. The shape of the rice cake varies depending on geographical regions.
In the Kansai region, round mochi is eaten to represent the family reunion, whereas in the Kanto region, square-shaped mochi is eaten. Legend has it, the Kanto people were known to be impatient, and making a round mochi was too time-consuming for them, so they made square-shaped rice cakes to save time.
Ozoni is made with different shades of miso, and with recipes specific to various regions of Japan.
In December, Ishihara told The Epoch Times that at the end of the year, a counter is set up to sell the “Kamiwaza white miso,” used only on New Year’s Day and is preferred in the Kansai region. “Although the price is a bit high, many people still buy it because it is a must-have for the New Year’s dinner table.”
“Miso soup is made by boiling various vegetables such as radishes, carrots, and rice cake in a pot, and adding white miso at the end. Then cook for a short while on low heat. It will taste delicious.” Ishihara added, “There is also another easy way to make it by mixing red bean soup and white miso soup and adding a piece of fish sausage and a piece of green vegetable into the bowl. It looks good and also tastes delicious.”
The Many Benefits of Miso
A fermented food unique to Japan, miso provides many nutritional benefits.
In July 2022, Miso Journal published an article titled, “Why is miso in the spotlight again?” that explained that miso is rich in protein, one of the essential nutrients in the human body and that protein deficiency can cause a decrease in immunity and muscle strength.
Every 100 grams of miso contains 12.5 grams of protein that is composed of many amino acids. Made of soybeans, miso contains 20 different amino acids, including essential amino acids that cannot be produced by the human body itself. After fermentation, soybeans can be efficiently digested and absorbed into the body, resulting in a balance of amino acid levels.
Miso is rich in dietary fiber that can improve gut status, increase gut motility, and is conducive to flushing sugar, fat, and sodium out of our bodies. It can effectively regulate the rise of blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
Soybeans are rich in lecithin, which inhibits the absorption of cholesterol and can improve immunity and prevent arteriosclerosis, as well as enhance memory and cognitive ability.
Soybeans also contain isoflavones, a kind of polyphenol, considered a strong antioxidant, that aids in the prevention of aging problems, such as dark spots, wrinkles, memory loss, and fatigue.
The components of miso soup are conducive to regulating hormonal imbalance, restoring skin elasticity, and having healthy, shiny hair.
Miso can be especially beneficial for women. Nota, a woman living in Osaka, Japan, told The Epoch Times, “Miso is good for improving our gut and is critically important to women. I have eaten miso since I was young. Every time I travel abroad, my intestines feel unwell and difficult to digest. I recover after drinking some miso soup when I return home. Moreover, miso soup is suitable for elders, men, women, and children, and the soup is irreplaceable in Japanese cuisine.”
The benefits of eating miso have been well documented and continue to be explored. Wherever you may live, you can celebrate the New Year with a bowl of nourishing miso soup.
