Wednesday, January 7, 2026
January 7th is now, and the New Year's mood has calmed down a bit after the end of the New Year period. Today is Jinjitsu no Sekku, a day to cherish others.
On a bitterly cold morning in Hokuryu Town, we enjoyed a steaming hot bowl of "Seven Herb Rice Porridge."
The seven herbs of spring are parsley, shepherd's purse, gogyo, chickweed, budworm, bellflower, and white radish. These seven young herbs are full of vitality and will sprout even after surviving the harsh winter.
The seven herb rice porridge is a prayer to ward off evil spirits and pray for good health for the year ahead. It is also a prayer to give thanks to the earth for its bounty and pray for a bountiful harvest. It is imbued with such ancient traditions and a noble prayer that combines respect for nature.
The hot porridge is topped with Kurosengokudon! The green of the seven herbs and the black of the Kurosengoku stand out against the white porridge, adding texture and a fragrant aroma! Adding this local bounty will energize you from within.
The porridge is accompanied by a warm soup. The bowl is sprinkled with cute "sakurafu" (wheat gluten). The gently floating cherry blossom color is reminiscent of the scenery of this town, quietly waiting for spring under the snow.
"May everyone be healthy this year." This gentle, light taste is perfect for welcoming the new year.
With boundless love, gratitude and prayers, we put our heart and soul into the traditional Japanese event of "Seven Herbs Rice Porridge," which is a time to think of people, cherish their health, pray for a bountiful harvest, and respect the laws of nature and human life.
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🖋️ Content planning, article writing, photo selection, and video creation: Ikuko Terauchi
Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi
