And it’s on that first day that you make something hot: ozoni, a special New Year’s soup with a dashi or miso broth, vegetables, and a little meat or fish cake, topped with grilled mochi.

Chef Saito's authentic recipes: (1) White Miso Ozoni (2) Isobeyaki with Sweet and Savory Butter Sauce. 1. Boil the spinach in salted water. Plunge it into ice water. Bind it and roll in a makisu ...