Japanese rice dishes

Japan with its four seasons, has various cuisines that are eaten during each season. The spring season and autumn season are often the periods when the different cultural cuisine or washoku is in focus in Japan. But there are also some traditional and cultural foods that are eaten during the long cold winters.

In this Japanese learner's blog, by one of JOI's Japanese teachers Someya sensei, the focus is on winter cultural cuisine. Please read through the blog without any Kanji help first, and then learn some Japanese Kanji from the second reading.

There is also an English translation and video on YouTube to help you study Japanese for free.

七草粥
Nanakusa Gayu

someya

By SOMEYA Sachiko

nanakusa-gayu

日本では1月7日に、新しく迎える1年の「無病息災」を願い、七種類の若草を入れた七草粥を食べる風習があります。

スーパーでは七草のパックも売られています。中国伝来で、平安中期ごろから始まったもののようです。お正月に食べすぎた弱ったも休めてくれます。七草にはそれぞれ効果効能もあります。

お正月休みも明け、慌ただしい時期なので、私はいつも気が付くと1月7日が過ぎていて、今年も食べ忘れた!!ということが多いです。今年は、春の七草のフリーズドライを使い、手軽に作って食べることができました。今年一年元気にすごせますように!

To listen to this blog, please watch our Youtube video.

七草粥(ななくさがゆ)

日本(にほん)では1月(がつ)7日(にち)に、新(あたら)しく迎(むか)える1年(ねん)の「無病息災」(むびょうそくさい)を願(ねが)い、七種類(しゅるい)の若草(わかくさ)を入(い)れた七草粥を食(た)べる風習(ふうしゅう)があります。

スーパーでは七草のパックも売(う)られています。中国(ちゅうごく)伝来(でんらい)で、平安(へいあん)中期(ちゅうき)ごろから始(はじ)まったもののようです。お正月(しょうがつ)に食(た)べすぎた弱(よわ)った胃(い)も休(やす)めてくれます。七草にはそれぞれ効果(こうか)効能(こうのう)もあります。

お正月(しょうがつ)休(やす)みも明(あ)け、慌(あわ)ただしい時期(じき)なので、私(わたし)はいつも気(き)が付(つ)くと1月7日が過(す)ぎていて、今年(ことし)も食べ忘(わす)れた!!ということが多(おお)いです。今年(ことし)は、春(はる)の七草のフリーズドライを使(つか)い、手軽(てがる)に作(つか)って食(た)べることができました。今年(ことし)一年(いちねん)元気(げんき)にすごせますように!

Nanakusa Gayu

In Japan, on January 7th, there is a custom of receiving the new year with a hope to have sound health and no illness by eating 'Nanakusa Gayu', which is a rice gruel that includes seven kinds of young greens.

In supermarkets, there are packs of seven greens sold. The custom was introduced from China in the middle period of the Heian era. It gives a rest to stomachs that have become weak due to over-eating during the New Year holiday. And the seven greens each have various effectiveness and efficacies.

The time after the New Year holiday is a busy period so I always realize this custom only after January 7th has passed, so that I often find myself saying that – oh no! I forgot it again this year! This year, I used some freeze-dried spring vegetables, so it was simple to make and eat. I hope that I can stay healthy for this whole year !

迎(むか)える    take in、invite、receive

若草(わかくさ)    young grass

風習(ふうしゅう)   habit、custom

伝来(でんらい)   introduction

中期(ちゅうき)    medium term、middle period

胃(い)         stomach

効果(こうか)     effect; effectiveness

効能(こうのう)    effect; indication; efficacy

慌(あわ)ただしい  busy、hurried

フリーズドライ     freeze‐dry

someya

Konnichiwa, My name is Sachiko Someya. I live in Yokohama city in Kanagawa prefecture. Yokohama is an attractive city with a lot of tourist destinations. If you ever get the chance, please come and visit. Learning a new language can bring you a lot pleasure but can also be difficult. I would like to help you to enjoy learning Japanese. Let's try hard together ! I'm looking forward to meeting up with you online.

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