Why Japanese People Eat a Bowl of Soba Noodles on New Year’s Eve

We can all use a moment of quiet to let go of the past year’s burdens

Illustrations by Kaki Okumura

When we think of holiday foods, more often than not we think of something big and gaudy, something worth taking a photo of on a big table spread. We imagine a giant stuffed turkey, an assortment of colorful roasted vegetables, or a…