Ozoni is a traditional Japanese soup eaten during the New Year celebration. It features mochi (rice cakes) as its central ingredient and varies widely by region and family tradition across Japan. 
Ozoni’s origin lies in ancient ceremonial practices and evolved into a cherished New Year dish, reflecting gratitude, unity, and hope for the future.

I would like to share my family Ozoni (Hokkaido style) with you today. This is the first meal of the year and I cannot start the new year without it.
I hope you enjoy it.

Ingredients (2 Serving)

4 pieces Mochi
5cm Carrot (cut into quarter-rounds)
3cm Daikon radish (peeled and cut into quarter-rounds)
2 Shiitake mushroom (sliced)
5cm Kamaboko or Naruto (fish cake)
100g Chicken thigh (sliced)
1 bunch Mitsuba (cut into 2cm width)
750 ml Water
5g Japanese dashi stock powder
1 tsp Mirin
1 tbsp Sake
3 tbsp Soy sauce
1 pinch Salt

Method

Step 1 - Put the chicken, daikon radish, carrot, shiitake mushroom, sake, and mirin in a pot, then cover and cook for 2 minutes over low heat.
Step 2 - Add the kamaboko (naruto), water, soy sauce and salt. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for 5 minutes.
Step 3 - Toast the mochi in the toaster (230degrees, 5 minutes for 1 packed mochi)
Step 4 - Add the toasted mochi in the soup and simmer for 1 minute.
Step 5 - Turn off the heat and serve in a bowl. Sprinkle some mitsuba on top.