The traditional Japanese New Year's foods packed in tiered boxes are called osechi. The boxes themselves are called jūbako, so osechi refers to the assortment of celebratory dishes rather than the container.
Osechi developed from older Japanese seasonal offerings and became specifically associated with New Year's during the Edo period (1603–1868). Its dishes are chosen for symbolic meanings: black soybeans suggest health and diligence, herring roe represents fertility, and sweet chestnut paste with sweet potato symbolizes prosperity.
The layered boxes made osechi easy to prepare before the holiday, when cooking was traditionally minimized. Regional variations remain important, and modern department stores often sell elaborate versions that include Western-style ingredients alongside classic Japanese dishes.