Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!

New Year's Eve called for a visit to Tōbu Hyakkaten 東武百貨店 (Tōbu department store), conveniently situated under JR Funabashi station, which accommodates the Sobu Line and Tobu Noda Line and is only a short distance from Keisei Funabashi Station on the Keisei Main Line. Places like this can reach bursting point around this time. Though it shouldn't be missed if you enjoy the final shopping push of the year and the mad scramble for all the best shōgatsu (Japanese New Year) culinary delights.

Wandering around B1 of this place is not for the agoraphobic or claustrophobic among us; there's no end of pushing and barging, and this is accompanied by the implored wailing of the myriad of shop staff tempting you to try samples of the never ending lines of delicious looking food. But it does have the character and buzz of a thriving market and there is little in the way of antagonism between shoppers - people do maintain some etiquette despite the ample opportunity to do exactly the opposite.

There is always so much on offer, but the more traditional food for this time of year - toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles), ozoni (rice cake soup), osechi (a box filled with a variety of foods), and mochi (glutinous rice) - are a very tempting choice for the last meal of this year and the first meal of the next. Other choices include ebi chilli (fried shrimp in a sweet spicy sauce), fried chicken, Gyoza (Chinese dumplings), yakitori (skewered chicken), and a seemingly never-ending selection of sweets and cakes. There is also a choice of Italian, Chinese, and Indian cuisine - the list goes on.

Though the hustle and bustle can get a bit much, the atmosphere is quite special - a bit like last minute Xmas shopping in the West. Once you've made your choice, it's time to head for the exit, slightly battered and bruised, but loaded with enough food to last a week.

    

The choice of food this year was easy - fried chicken, soba noodles with large fried shrimp, mochi, and, of course, ebi chilli. All washed down with a nice bottle of sake and a few beers. Lovely.

Happy New Year!!!