Toshikoshi soba is traditionally eaten in Japan on New Year's Eve to symbolize longevity.
The name means “year-crossing soba,” referring to the passage from one year into the next. The custom is associated with eating buckwheat noodles on December 31, often in a simple hot broth with toppings that vary by region and household.
The long, thin noodles are commonly linked with a long life, while soba's relative ease of cutting is sometimes associated with leaving behind hardships from the old year. These are cultural associations rather than a fixed religious requirement.
Toshikoshi soba is distinct from osechi ryōri, the assortment of New Year's dishes traditionally prepared for the first days of January. Mochi is also important in Japanese New Year's customs, but it is not the specific midnight noodle dish.