How Japanese New Year meals carry the traditions of washoku
UNESCO’s listing focuses on the knowledge, preparation and customs behind the food.
Washoku describes a set of Japanese food practices and traditions. In its intangible heritage listing, UNESCO highlights the New Year, when families prepare foods with symbolic meanings and serve them in distinctive dishes.
The knowledge involved includes choosing ingredients, preparing them and sharing a meal as part of a celebration. It is passed on through families and other community settings. The listing emphasizes the relationship among food, seasonal ingredients and social customs.