Ozoni

About Me

My name is Taylor Nakamoto and I'm going to be a junior at the University of Hawaii this fall. I am full Japanese, but I was born and raised in Oahu, Hawaii. Both of my parents are third-generation Japanese immigrants from Hiroshima, Japan. Although my parents don't practice Japanese traditions as much as my grandparents do, there are still some cultural activities I practice. My grandma has passed down some recipes to my mom that my great-grandparents passed down to her. Ozoni is a dish that I have eaten many times and have always wanted to learn to make.

In Japan, Ozoni began as just a side dish to go with sake; however, it has since evolved into being a main traditional dish that is prepared and eaten during the New Years holiday. The ingredients and preparation method differ depending on which district of Japan a person is in, but mochi is included in almost all of the recipes. Mochi is believed to symbolize longlasting life because of its ability to stretch. Some people also believe that adding local produce to their Ozoni will promise them a good harvest during the year. As a whole, Ozoni is mainly eaten for good luck and safety.

I selected Ozoni because it's my favorite traditional Japanese dish. Every year since I can remember, my family has met up a few days before New Year's day to pound mochi together. My grandpa would manually pound some mochi, but we cheated and used machines for the rest. I would help my grandma and aunts make the mochi into balls and fill it with azuki beans and peanut butter. Then, on New Year's day, my grandma would make Ozoni for us with the mochi we had made. I've always had good memories connected to Ozoni and look forward to eating it every New Year.

My Food

My Video: How to Prepare Ozoni

My mother, Kelly Ann Nakamoto, is a third-generation Japanese immigrant. Her ancestors came from Hiroshima, Japan. This Ozoni recipe is her version of the Chugoku district Ozoni recipe which she learned from my grandmother.

Calcium: Calcium is essential for bone strength and blood clotting.

Iron: Iron is needed for blood production.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps the body form tissue needed for healing.

Fiber: Fiber is essential for the health of your digestive system.

My Plate & SPC Classification

My Plate Classification

Vegetables: Mushrooms, Kombu, bamboo shoots. mizuna

Protein: clams, miso

Grains: Mochi

SPC Classification

Energy: mochi

Protective: mushrooms, kombu, bamboo shoots, mizuna

Body-building: clams