Editing Osechi (section)

==Examples of osechi dishes==
The dishes that make up ''osechi'' each have a special meaning celebrating the New Year.<ref name="maff141224">{{cite web|url=https://www.maff.go.jp/j/keikaku/syokubunka/culture/wagohan/articles/2212/spe12_03.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214090657/https://www.maff.go.jp/j/keikaku/syokubunka/culture/wagohan/articles/2212/spe12_03.html|script-title=ja:おせちは一年の幸を願う料理。おせちを知って作ってみよう。|language=ja|publisher=[[Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan)]]|date=|archive-date=14 December 2024|access-date=18 January 2025}}</ref> Some examples are:
*''[[Daidai]]'' (橙, だいだい), [[bitter orange|Japanese bitter orange]]. ''Daidai'' means "from generation to generation" when written in different [[kanji]] as 代々. Like ''kazunoko'' below, it symbolizes a wish for children in the New Year.
*''{{ill|Datemaki|ja|伊達巻}}'' (伊達巻 or 伊達巻き or だてまき), sweet rolled omelette mixed with fish paste or mashed shrimp. They symbolize a wish for many auspicious days. On auspicious days (晴れの日, ''hare-no-hi''), Japanese people traditionally wear fine clothing as a part of enjoying themselves. One of the meanings associated with the second kanji includes "fashionability", derived from the illustrious dress of the [[samurai]] from [[Date clan|Date]] [[Han (Japan)|Han]].
*''[[Kamaboko]]'' (蒲鉾, かまぼこ), broiled fish cake. Traditionally, slices of red and white ''kamaboko'' are alternated in rows or arranged in a pattern. The color and shape are reminiscent of Japan [[Land of the Rising Sun|rising sun]], and have a celebratory, festive meaning.
*''[[Kazunoko]]'' (数の子, かずのこ), [[herring]] [[roe]]. ''Kazu'' means "number" and ''ko'' means "child". It symbolizes a wish to be gifted with numerous children in the New Year.
*''[[Konbu]]'' (昆布), a kind of [[seaweed]]. It is considered to sound like the word ''yorokobu'', meaning "joy".
*''{{ill|Kuro-mame|ja|黒豆}}'' (黒豆, くろまめ), [[soybean|black soybeans]]. ''Mame'' also means "health", symbolizing a wish for health in the New Year.
*{{Nihongo3||紅白なます|Kōhaku-namasu}}, literally "red-white vegetable [[kuai (dish)|kuai]]", is made of [[daikon]] and carrot cut into thin strips and pickled in sweetened vinegar with [[yuzu]] flavor.
*''Tai'' (鯛, たい), [[bream|red sea-bream]]. ''Tai'' is associated with the Japanese word ''medetai'', meaning auspicious, as to welcome auspicious events for the new year.
*''{{ill|Tazukuri|ja|田作}}'' (田作り), dried [[sardines]] cooked in [[soy sauce]]. The literal meaning of the kanji in ''tazukuri'' is "rice paddy maker", as the fish were used historically to fertilize rice fields. The symbolism is of an abundant harvest next year.
*{{Nihongo3||雑煮|[[Zōni]]}}, a soup of [[mochi]] rice cakes in clear broth (in eastern Japan) or [[miso]] broth (in western Japan).
*''Ebi'' (海老, えび), skewered [[prawn]]s cooked with [[sake]] and [[soy sauce]]. It symbolizes a wish for a long-life, suggesting long beard and bent waist.
*''Nishiki tamago'' (錦卵/二色玉子), egg roulade; the egg is separated before cooking, yellow symbolizing gold, and white symbolizing silver, both of these together symbolising wealth and good fortune.
*''Zenzai'' is a hot dessert soup made of sweet red beans and often served with toasted rice cakes (mochi) or smaller shiratama dango (mini rice cakes). It is similar to ''[[shiruko]]''.