Otoso

The otoso tradition arrived in Japan from China during the Heian period and has been practiced continuously for over a thousand years. Tososan herb packets are widely sold at pharmacies in December and are steeped in sake or mirin on New Year's Eve. The resulting drink is mildly bitter and aromatic, with a warming, medicinal quality. The drinking ritual follows a specific order within the family, traditionally youngest first, using three nested lacquered cups. While many modern Japanese families have simplified or abandoned the full ritual, otoso remains an important cultural touchstone of New Year.