Japan's osechi spending trends for the new year

If you're an expat who has already spent a New Year's holiday (or several of them!) here in Japan, you've probably seen or even tried osechi ryori, the beautifully arranged dishes eaten during the first few days of January. Each dish carries a symbolic meaning for health, happiness, or prosperity, and traditionally the food is packed into lacquered tiered boxes called jubako.

A recent Cookpad survey has revealed how much this tradition is being shaped by rising costs, much like every other realm of life seems to be. The average household's osechi budget now sits at around 15,000 yen, a figure that has quietly become the spending limit for many families. More than half of respondents said they want to keep their New Year's food costs at or below that mark, which I think reflects a growing sense of financial caution even during one of Japan's most celebratory seasons.

Over 50 percent of households plan to make at least part of their osechi by hand, often combining store-bought items with homemade favorites like chikuzenni (simmered vegetables and chicken) or simple sweets. Many are also moving away from the traditional tiered boxes, opting instead to serve dishes on regular plates to save both money and effort.

It seems like whether it's groceries, gifts, or holiday meals, balancing enjoyment with expense is part of everyday life for just about everyone these days.