Chinami Hamauchi and Maple Chogokin's Unusual Collaboration Ito-Yokado's "Greedy Osechi" Presentation Event

Ito-Yokado held a briefing on its 2018 New Year's Osechi dishes at its headquarters building in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on November 30. For 2018, in addition to traditional Osechi, the company offers a diverse lineup including Western-style options, single-serving sizes, and regional specialties, allowing customers to choose based on preference and group size. Pre-orders are being accepted starting October 2nd at 168 stores nationwide (as of September 25th) and on the Seven & i Holdings online shopping site "Omni7".

At the start, Mr. Hideyuki Yoshikawa, a merchandiser from the Food Business Division, stated, "This year, we've developed diverse types of osechi. We want to make the celebratory New Year gatherings fresh and enjoyable."

Cooking researcher Chiba Hamauchi, who supervised the "Greedy Two-Tier Osechi," rushed to the venue. She shared her dedication: "I made it greedily, hoping for a year of health, energy, and brightness for families. While many osechi dishes tend to be surprisingly rich in flavor, I focused on bringing out the goodness of the ingredients."

Next, comedians Natsu Ando and Kazureza from the duo Maple Chogokin took the stage. Ando, dressed in a kimono for the New Year, drew laughter by joking that her tightly cinched obi made her feel "tightened up." Kazureza, dressed in bright red traditional attire, muttered upon seeing her, "She disproves the theory that kimonos make you look stylish."

Ando shared a memory about osechi: "Every year, my family fought over the chestnut paste." Kazurazeru revealed, "I love rolled omelet." Hamauchi whispered to them, "Both are included, you know. It's a 'greedy osechi' after all."

Ando, who adores chestnut paste, screamed "Ah! Delicious!" upon tasting the "Chestnut Paste Anglaise Sauce Style," finished with whipped cream for a dessert-like touch. Kazureza savored the authentic roast beef, while Hamauchi beamed, "I packed it full of Japanese-Western fusion dishes so the whole family could enjoy it."

Finally, Maple Chogokin revealed their kanji for the year.

Ando-san chose "華盛" (Hana-Sei). "I had many splendid experiences and also gained some fat," he explained. Hamaichi-san then cracked a pun: "So it's both belly-full and splendid, huh?"

Kazu Laser prefaced his character by noting it wasn't a standard kanji, revealing a kanji version of their company logo. "It means 'excellent company,'" he stated seriously, sending the audience into fits of laughter. Hamaichi also marveled, "That's deep, huh?"

Ando murmured, "I'm looking forward to eating the osechi," while Kazlaser impatiently added, "I want to eat it soon, so I hope December ends quickly."

Hamaichi concluded, "We've been meticulous about ingredients and flavor, crafting it honestly and sincerely. We've evolved it a little each year. We hope you enjoy this truly ambitious osechi in the new year."

 

Official Website: http://www.itoyokado.co.jp/special/osechi/