Food for the days of the end and first of year

Today I want to introduce about Japanese food for the days of the end and first of year, Toshikoshi soba and Osechi. Almost Japanese eat it every year.

The habit of eating soba has started since Edo era. There are differences of soba's types in each religion in Japan. In general, it is said that we can live long with health, we can get money and we can throw the year's troubles if we eat soba in the end year's day, December 31. It is important to be finished eating soba before a new year's day, January 1st.

The habit of eating Osechi has also started since Edo era. There are many kinds of food in Osechi. It is celebrate of new year. various color are used in the boxes, Jyubako. Recipes of Osechi's food is simple, for example just boiling or frying because it gives women rest during the first few days of January. the food keep well for a long time. Each food has a meaning which are praying for health, money, promotion and so on.

Japan has lots of traditional food customer. We have to keep culture. I think many Japanese don't believe any religions, so Japanese culture will gone if we stop these customer. I don't want to lost the culture. In this year, I will learn how to prepare soba and cook Osechi food from my mother.

Have a happy year-end and new year!!

Food for X-mas

Today is December 19th. X-mas will be coming soon, so I want to write about food for X-mas. What do you eat in the day of X-mas?
This picture is interesting because there are sushi and chicken on the same table!


In Japan, X-mas have been spread for around 1952. X-mas had been known in 1927 in Yamaguchi prefecture by missionaries. It have became one of year's events in Japan completely after the World War. People spend the day with family or friends or lovers at home or restaurant, for example. Then, they eat food for X-mas like chicken or cake and drink wine. I think that Japanese people don't believe any religions, so they just enjoy food, present and illuminations.

I would like to introduce of what kinds of food people eat in X-mas in the world.
American people eat a turkey. British people eat roast beef or chicken. French people eat grilled rabbit meat. Finn people eat rice porridge of milk. There are people who eat fish instead of meat in these countries.

What will you eat in this X-mas? Did you decide yet? Have a good holiday!

Macdonald's in the world Part Ⅲ

This is the last part of my McDonald's blogs. I want to introduce about McDonald's in USA. The reason why I choose it, maybe you can guess easily, there is a company of McDonald's in USA, so I wanted to know that McDonald's origin.


Macdonald brothers started McDonald's in 1940 in California, USA. It got famous after World War Ⅱ. In 1954, Ray Kroc was interested in McDonald's style. McDonald's had a good customer turnover. Then he recommended starting business using this system. However, the brothers were not interested in franchise and they made terms. Its permitted Ray Kroc's hope that to make franchises and to spread McDonal's in USA.

McDonald's suceeded in Illinois in USA. He started a new company which is "McDonald's Systems Inc." in 1955. He opened a fist McDonald's in Chicago. In 1960, the company name was changed to "McDonald's Corporation."

In 1961, Ray Kroc get all right of company from the brothers. They continued thier shop as a hamburger shop. That name was "The Big M", but it don't exist now.

That is a origin of McDonald's. I had not known that exactly. Do you know that? It is interesting that reserching origin. McDonald's get popular among all over the world. They will increase more in the future.