Japanese New Years

New Years is a big deal in my family.  Even though fireworks have been made illegal in Hawaii, my family still finds a way to make New Years meaningful.  My dad likes to go all out for New Years.  He is very traditional when it comes to the rituals and things that are used as offerings for a traditional Japanese New Years.  My dad brings out the kadomatsu which is a bamboo and pine decoration that goes at the entrances of houses.  This is a symbol for longevity, prosperity, and steadfastness.  In addition to the kadomatsu, my dad also will put out kagami mochi which is two pieces of mochi stacked up on top of each other with the bottom one larger than the top with a tangerine finally to top the whole thing off.  This New Years' decoration symbolizes the generations to come and the continuation of the family.

We have some foods that we always eat on New Years.  Kuromame (black beans), konbu (boiled seaweed), fishcake (kamaboko) are just a few of the foods that my Great-Grandpa and Great- Grandma Aoki would always make for New Years.  Till this day, my Aunty and Grandma still make all of the traditional Japanese foods for New Years.  I will never forget when my Great-Grandma would tell me to eat her kuromame so that I could "be like the bean" and live a long life.  We also eat noodles for New Years because noodles are long and represent long life.  I love my Japanese heritage and culture.  I feel that my Japanese background plays an important role in my life and how I was brought up.  I will continue all the New Years traditions that my dad and grandparents brought me up with for sure.   I think that it is important to me and my culture.