I carry

my family

on my back

New Year Reflections 

正月 - OSHOGATSU - New Year

For our family, the Japanese New Year celebration is an important time to be with loved ones and invite renewal into our lives for the coming year.

This year, the tone of both Christmas and the New Year is different. Things are shifting, moving, transforming and I wonder: where do I pick up what was left for me?

January 3, 2025

Of the “grands” (grandparent / grand-aunt+uncle), just the matriarchs remain on both sides of my family.

And with them, I am constantly reminded of the limited time remaining.

More, living far from them, I reflect on how I can best carry on all the love and traditions they gifted me,

where I stay.

Family from all over, coming together to enjoy Bachan/Grandma or Aunty’s food. It’s the Italian/Japanese event of the year. They go HARD when it comes to feeding the family.

God bless 🙏🏽🤲🏽

Food has alwaaaaaaaaaays played such a vital role in our lives, especially around these holidays.

So as this New Year has arrived, with all its changing meanings/transitional moments of celebration and family, I reflect on the idea of renewal.

How does my generation bring all of that spirit into modernity? Where do I pick up what was left for me?

I think the answer for me is food.