Japanese New Year

by Asher Takazawa (Grade 10)

Every New Year’s Day, my family and I visit my grandparents' house to celebrate. The dining table is always filled with delicious dishes, including our family favorite—chicken tonkatsu. My grandparents have made it every year for as long as I can remember, and it’s become a must-have part of our New Year tradition.

Before moving here, my grandparents owned a sushi restaurant in Japan, and they still cook with the same care and precision as they did back then. The way they prepare chicken tonkatsu hasn’t changed. Cooking this dish brings us closer and keeps our family together, reminding us of their roots and the restaurant that shaped our lives.

In the days leading up to New Year’s, my grandparents always make sure to stock up on all the essentials from the local corner store. It’s a small, familiar spot they’ve been visiting for years, where they pick up the ingredients. They also get plenty of snacks and drinks, like ramune, which my brother and I always look forward to. That corner store is part of the tradition too, providing things we need to keep our celebration going year after year.