Seven spring herbs porridge
Nanakusagayu：七草粥

The set of seven herbs are in stores.  After new year goods are taken away, we start to see this herb set.  Japanese use these 7 herbs to make a rice porridge.  On January 7th, we eat this porridge to wish an year long health.  This is a traditional Japanese porridge with seven spring herbs.  This custom was introduced from China and then became a custom in Japan by the Heian Period ( 8^th century).  Generally, a  nanakugayu is cooked with salt and seaweed broth.  The spring seven herbs are suzushiro (radish), suzuna (turnip), seri (Japanese parsley), nazuna (shepherd’s-purse), gogyou, hakobera (chickweed), hotokenoza (henbit).  People believe these herbs would protect them against evils and invite good luck and longevity.　　 However, another thing that this porridge does is to heal your stomach after eating and drinking  too much in New years!  Happy New Year 2010